PRIME MINISTER

Big Conversation

Alan Duncan: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what estimate has been made of the cost of civil service time allocated to the Big Conversation consultation;
	(2)  what his Department's estimate is of the proportion of the total cost of the Big Conversation consultation that will be borne by the Government;
	(3)  how many civil servants have been seconded to work on the Big Conversation consultation.

Tony Blair: The Labour Party is consulting its members and the wider community on the Government's progress and challenges ahead. This is a party document and has been issued by the Labour Party. No civil servants have been seconded to work on the consultation process.
	However Ministers and special advisers have of course participated in this process according to the rules laid out in the Ministerial Code and the Special Advisers Code.

Engagements

Tim Loughton: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet the Dalai Lama when he visits the United Kingdom in May 2004.

Tony Blair: I have not received a request to meet the Dalai Lama.

Special Advisers

George Howarth: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to amend the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Tony Blair: In its response to the ninth report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, the Government proposed an amendment to the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers to clarify the relationships between special advisers and permanent civil servants. In the light of comments made, the Government have decided to delete the reference to "instructions" in the opening paragraph. A revised amendment has been placed in the Library of the House.

CABINET OFFICE

Olympic Games

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to ensure that Ministers representing the United Kingdom abroad are adequately briefed on the London 2012 Olympic bid.

Douglas Alexander: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport gave to him on 3 December 2003, Official Report, columns 64–65W.

Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by his Department in 2002–03 was introduced to implement EU requirements.

Douglas Alexander: None.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Angola

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has made to the Government of Angola about the reintergration of demobilised soldiers.

Hilary Benn: The reintegration of demobilised soldiers is a key issue in the UK's regular discussions with the Government of Angola.
	Since the end of the war in April 2002, over 88,000 ex-combatants have benefited from the Government of Angola's own disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme.
	DFID is supporting the World Bank's Multi-country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme (MDRP) for the Great Lakes region of Africa with a contribution of $25 million. The specific programme for Angola (ADRP) is an integral part of the MDRP and is worth $180 million over the next two years. The programme formally starts in January 2004 and will focus mainly on providing social and economic reintegration assistance including training and employment opportunities for 138,000 former combatants from UNITA and the government's own forces. My department has actively participated in each of the World Bank missions held over the last 18 months in order to design and set up the ADRP. DFID was also one of two donor countries (together with the Netherlands) to participate in the executive committee of the ADRP Special Project that aimed to provide 50,000 ex-combatants with seeds and tools for the autumn 2003 planting season and training in basic livelihoods skills for another 3,000.

Democratic Republic of Congo

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made with supplying food to vulnerable people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Hilary Benn: DRC is considered as one of 38 countries requiring exceptional external assistance by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN, as a result of the effects of civil strife and the presence of large numbers of displaced people and refugees. However not all vulnerable people in DRC require food aid, and the UN's assessed requirement for food aid in DRC is low relative to chronically food insecure countries such as Sudan or Ethiopia. In these circumstances emergency help with health and nutrition can be more effective in reducing mortality than food aid.
	Between 2000 and 2003 the World Food Programme delivered 259,081 metric tonnes (mt) of food for DRC. WFP began a distribution of 46,000mt of food aid in the east of the country in June this year in response to high levels of malnutrition there. This project is due to finish on 15 December. Just under 40per cent. of the requested food aid (17,237mt) has been distributed. DFID has not made a specific contribution to this, although it is supporting food aid distribution in the same area through the International Relief NGO, CESVI.
	DFID has steadily increased its humanitarian programme in DRC over the past five years.
	This year we will spend over 10 million on emergency humanitarian relief. Much of this is for emergency medical interventions, rather than food aid. We are also committed to supporting the new transitional national government and the political transitiongenerally in DRC. It is only with a lasting political solution that the needs of vulnerable people can be properly addressed.

Iraq

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the £60 million being held in the Treasury to be drawn down to assist humanitarian and reconstruction work in Iraq has been (a) drawn down to contribute to the Madrid pledge and (b) withdrawn.

Hilary Benn: The £60 million is included in the UK's total Madrid pledge of £544 for the three years from April 2003.£30.8 million of it has already been allocated, primarily towards meeting the costs of UK secondments to the Coalition Provisional Authority. The allocation of the remainder is under consideration.

Liberia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action is being taken to prevent the assault and rape of civilians by gunmen in Liberia.

Hilary Benn: The international community has put in place a peacekeeping force under the direction of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). UNMIL has successfully created an arms free zone in Monrovia, and plans progressively to extend its influence over the entire country as it builds up to its full complement of 15,000 peacekeepers by March.
	The most effective way to provide security and protection for Liberian civilians is for all factions to implement the Accra Peace Agreement, signed in 17 August, beginning with instructions to their followers to disarm and demobilise. The UK, as part of the international contact group on Liberia, is supporting the implementation of the agreement. Plans to support the process and to reform the security services, including the police, as part of the reconstruction of Liberia are being taken forward by the UN and donors.

Somalia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Sool Plateau in Somalia; and what assistance he has offered.

Hilary Benn: Approximately 90,000 pastoralists are at risk from the failure of the autumn rains in northern Somalia. The global malnutrition rate for the Sool plateau is just under 14 per cent., which indicates the need for close monitoring rather than immediate intervention.
	The humanitarian response includes: greater use of targeted family rations by WFP alongside UNICEF's supplementary feeding programme to screened children, monitoring of the health and nutrition situation; cash assistance to allow communities meet their non-food needs especially water, transport for livestock and/or people and to some extent pay up for accumulated credit; emergency water provision; emergency health services provision and veterinary services.
	A United Nations assessment found a difficult situation although not yet a humanitarian crisis. We are envisaging a contribution to a UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs emergency response fund that is likely to appear as an amendment to the 2004 Consolidated Appeal for Somalia. The UN's Children Fund received £1 million from DFID for its health and nutrition work in Somalia in March 2003. We will be making some further contributions to meet humanitarian needs in Somalia very soon.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Aircraft Noise

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total (a) area and (b) population affected by aircraft noise is within (i) 57 Leq contour, (ii) 63 Leq contour and (iii) 69 Leq contour and above at (A) Belfast International Airport and (B) Belfast City Airport.

John Spellar: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  57 dBA Leq 63 dBA Leq 69 dBA Leq 
		
		
			  Belfast International Airport 
			 Area (km(2)) 9.7 3 1 
			 Population 600 0 0 
			 
			  Belfast City Airport 
			 Area (km(2)) 3.2 0.9 0.3 
			 Population 4,100 0 0 
		
	
	Note:
	The above data relate to the year 1999 and are the latest available material.

Flu Vaccination

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of those eligible for an influenza vaccination in Northern Ireland have received one; and what steps he is taking to increase take-up of the vaccination.

Angela Smith: From commencement of 2003–04 flu vaccination campaign to 31 October 2003, 56.7 per cent. of the over 65 population in NI have received flu vaccination. This is up on the same period of 2002–03, when the figure was 56.3 per cent. In the under 65 "at risk" group for the period to 31 October, 41.4 per cent. of these have received flu vaccination. This is up on the same period of 2002–03, when the figure was 39.7 per cent.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ran the Influenza Immunisation Campaign. This included a TV advertisement and the vast majority of those eligible for immunisation also received a personal invite from their GP along with a detailed information leaflet. In October the Department also issued a second letter to GPs, Boards, Trusts advising that the influenza virus was circulating and exhorting them to take urgent action to encourage uptake of the vaccine, in particular among at risk children. Additional interviews for TV and radio encouraged those eligible to get the flu vaccine. At local levels, HSS Trusts and GPs took action to increase the uptake.

Irish Marine Environment Report

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Department contributed to the research reported on in the report, Radioactivity Monitoring of the Irish Marine Environment 2000 and 2001, released in May by the Radiation Protection Institute of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on research collaboration between his Office and the RPII.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland did not contribute to the research reported in the report, "Radioactivity Monitoring of the Irish Marine Environment 2000 and 2001", released in May by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.
	The Department has undertaken a number of collaborative studies with the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and University College Dublin since 1990. These studies looked at artificial radioactivity in Carlingford Lough, Lough Foyle and Strangford Lough and confirmed that contamination levels in the Northern Ireland environment are of negligible radiological significance.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Air-to-air Refuelling

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the joint-venture bid by Boeing and BAE Systems to provide air-to-air refuelling to the RAF.

Jacqui Smith: Boeing and BAE Systems (with SERCO and Spectrum Capital) make up the Tanker and Transport Service Company (TTSC), one of the bidding consortia for MOD's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) competition. The competition is on-going and it would therefore be inappropriate to make a statement. I have, however, recently met with both consortia concerned (AirTanker and TTSC) to discuss the UK industrial implications of their respective bids.

Burma

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which British companies have investments in Burma.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 2 December 2003
	The two largest UK investors in Burma, Premier Oil and British American Tobacco, have agreed to withdraw from Burma. British investment is now minimal; a number of British tour operators have links with Burmese travel companies and Sea Containers/Orient Express operate cruises in Burma. I have however written to ABTA to suggest that travel operators promoting Burma, should think twice before proceeding.

Company Law

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has in the company law review to ensure that company law and industrial and provident society law are brought into line; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Company Law Review (CLR) focussed on core company law and did not extend to industrial and provident societies.
	The Industrial and Provident Societies Act 2002 enables the Treasury to update industrial and provident society legislation in line with company law, following a change in company law.
	In order to provide for a strategic, consistent and up-to-date approach between companies and societies, the general modernisation of industrial and provident society legislation will be considered by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in the light of new companies legislation following the Company Law Review.

Cross-border Mergers

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with (a) her European counterparts and (b) the European Commission regarding new proposals for an EC directive on cross-border mergers; what the outcome of those discussions has been; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: UK representatives have met with European counterparts and the Commission during the past 12 months in both Council and Commission Working Groups and in informal meetings to discuss the proposed cross-border mergers Directive, which is a part of the EU Action Plan on Company Law and Corporate Governance.
	The new proposal for an EC Directive on Cross-Border Mergers was published on 18 November 2003.

Electricity Supplies

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what responsibility (a) the Government, (b) the regulator and (c) electricity suppliers have for maintaining electricity supplies in the event of severe winter weather.

Stephen Timms: Legal responsibility for energy security is shared by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Ofgem. The Secretary of State is responsible for setting the overall regulatory framework for the supply of electricity. A key part of that framework is set out in section 3A of the Electricity Act 1989 as amended by the Utilities Act 2000 and includes the objectives "to protect the interests of consumers". To this end the Secretary of State has made a new statutory instrument (The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002) requiring electricity distribution companies to prevent interruption of supply as far as is reasonably practical.
	Electricity for domestic consumers is provided through their contracts with electricity supply companies, which are trading organisations, not responsible for the electricity infrastructure such as overhead lines. The local infrastructure is the responsibility of electricity distribution companies. In each electricity distribution region the physical supply of electricity to customers is the responsibility of a monopoly Distribution Network Operator (DNO), regulated through an Ofgem licensing system. The Secretary of State lays down the Standard Licence Conditions. Enforcement of the licence conditions is for Ofgem.

Euratom Programme

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on how the Euratom programme will provide opportunities for research that may help support the domestic skills base.

Stephen Timms: The Euratom programme covers both fission and fusion research and includes areas of research, like radiation protection, that the Nuclear Skills Group (NSG) 1 indicated might face a domestic skills shortage in the future. It allows the UK to be part of large scale cutting edge international projects like the fusion International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The programme provides opportunities for UK researchers to collaborate with other EU research groups encouraging the spread of best practice. It has a role to play in maintaining expertise and attracting younger scientists in a sector currently facing considerable change.
	1 The Nuclear Skills Group (NSG) was drawn from a number of UK Government Departments, industry, academia and professional institutions. In 2002, it conducted a survey of the UK national nuclear and radiological skill base to provide an insight to the future availability of UK skills. The survey was prompted by an assessment of the international situation by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA).

Euratom Programme

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Government have contributed to (a) Euratom and (b) Euratom nuclear fusion research and development programmes in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The EU budget is not disaggregated at project/spending level to show national contributions by members states. However, Euratom spending forms part of the UK's annual contribution to the overall EC budget. The following table gives the UK's financial share after abatement to the EC budget for the years 1997–2003 1 .
	1 External expenditure is not subject to abatement.
	
		
			  UK percentage share 
		
		
			 1997 11.9 
			 1998 15.2 
			 1999 13.4 
			 2000 15.8 
			 2001 9.6 
			 2002 13.1 
			 2003 12.9 
		
	
	The following table sets out the European Commission budgets for the total Euratom and Euratom fusion programmes (GBP millions, 2003 prices 1 ).
	1 Figures have been calculated on the basis of official budget documents for 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003, and have been converted into 2003 prices using Eurostat deflators. Euro figures have been converted into GBP using the average exchange rates for relevant years. Published figures for this expenditure are spread over different parts of the EC Budget, with principal activities falling under budget title 6, "Energy and Transport" (specifically the Community's nuclear energy programme), and budget title 8, "Research", as well as some external actions lines.
	
		
			  Total Euratom Of which fusion programme: 
		
		
			 1997 159.0 130.2 
			 1998 158.6 133.8 
			 1999 177.5 139.2 
			 2000 189.5 113.5 
			 2001 190.3 163.4 
			 2002 221.6 141.8 
			 2003 176.7 97.6 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures do not include Euratom loans, which are financed separately from the budget.

Euratom Programme

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much financial support the UK has received from Euratom for nuclear fission research in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement on research projects supported by Euratom.

Stephen Timms: The European Commission figures on the final use of funding for the FP5 Nuclear Fission and Radiation Protection programme (1998–2002) provide an indication of opportunities that the programme brings to UK researchers. In FP5, the EC funded a total of 289 projects at a cost of 167.2 MEuro. UK participations totaled 266 and those participants received 21.6 MEuro of the available funding. Only France and Germany had a greater number of participations. Commission funding is paid direct to researchers and the UK Government hold no record of these payments.
	The Government take a proactive approach in the negotiation of the Euratom Programmes and content of both FP5 Euratom and the new FP6 Euratom programme (2002–06) broadly match UK interests.

Export Control Licences

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export control licences have been revoked for each year since 1997; and on what grounds.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 3 December 2003
	Since May 1997, the Government have published the number of export licences that have been revoked, and also on what grounds. These details are in the Government's Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which are available from the Libraries of the House.

Insolvency Service

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the procedures adopted by the Insolvency Service for dealing with members of staff believed to be inefficient; and whether there have been recent changes in these procedures.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 3 December 2003
	The Insolvency Service has two procedures to deal with inefficiency, unsatisfactory performance and unsatisfactory attendance. The procedures are designed to bring performance (or attendance) up to the required standard, and comply with employment legislation and the ACAS Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievance (2000). The inefficiency procedure was revised earlier this year. Both sets of procedures will be reviewed again next year to ensure compliance with the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations.

Insolvency Service

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Insolvency Service staff have had inefficiency proceedings initiated against them in each of the past five years; and what the ethnic background of the individuals concerned was in each year.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 3 December 2003
	The following table shows the number of Insolvency Service staff and their ethnic background who have had inefficiency proceedings initiated against them in the last five years.
	
		
			  Number White Black 1 Unknown 
		
		
			 1998 3 3 0 0 
			 1999 1 0 1 0 
			 2000 3 3 0 0 
			 2001 1 1 0 0 
			 2002 4 3 0 1 
			 2003 1 1 0 0 
		
	
	1 The data have not been further broken down into categories of ethnic origin as they were collected prior to the latest census ethnic origin categories being used.
	Note:
	The data above exclude inefficiency proceedings taken as a result of unsatisfactory attendance. These data cannot be provided in the timescales given.

Iraq

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to implement British Standards in the reconstruction of Iraqi industry and commerce.

Patricia Hewitt: It is for a future, independent government in Iraq to decide which standards that country should adopt. The Coalition Provisional Authority is using existing standards as much as possible. I fully support this approach.

MG Rover

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with representatives of the firm MG Rover about the decision to suspend production on 25 November.

Jacqui Smith: None.

Mining-related Compensation Claims

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total paid to date in compensation claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) Vibration White Finger of former coalminers is in (i) the Rother Valley constituency and (ii) the United Kingdom.

Nigel Griffiths: As of 31 October 2003 £10.4 million had been paid for respiratory disease claims and £16 million for Vibration White Finger claims in the Rother Valley constituency; and as of 23 November 2003 £913 million for respiratory disease claims and £983 million for Vibration White Finger in the United Kingdom.
	Note:Constituency figures can be found on the DTI website: www.dti.gov.uk/coalhealth The information is complied in the middle of the month and shows the figures for the end of the previous month.

Motor Industry

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial contributions have been made by her Department to the Foresight Vehicle LINK programme.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has made commitments totalling £12.4 million, as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1997–98 672 
			 1998–99 149 
			 1999–2000 660 
			 2000–01 722 
			 2001–02 1,382 
			 2002–03 3,975 
			 2003–04 3,493

Motor Industry

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the operation of the Foresight Vehicle LINK programme.

Jacqui Smith: The Foresight Vehicle LINK programme supports technology transfer through collaborative R&D, aiming to raise the innovation performance of the automotive industry in the UK, including its supplier base. A supporting knowledge transfer network, now managed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, carries out technology roadmapping to set the research priorities for the programme, brokerage and dissemination activities. The programme includes a wide portfolio of projects, valued in excess of £100 million, in the key thematic areas of advanced materials; advanced electronics, sensors, software and telematics; powertrain; alternative propulsion systems; and design and manufacturing processes. DTI has now fully committed it funds of £12.4 million to the programme.

Natural Gas

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the recent change in the price of natural gas.

Stephen Timms: Wholesale spot gas prices rose from 15p a therm in September to a peak of 34p a therm in October (and on 2 December stood at 27.6p a therm). This may reflect seasonal factors.
	Ofgem has announced that it is seeking views from industry on the recent increase in wholesale gas prices, and that it is examining the allegations about possible manipulation of wholesales gas prices. In due course Ofgem will determine whether it is appropriate to start a formal investigation.

Nuclear Waste

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the cost of managing nuclear waste in each of the next 10 years.

Patricia Hewitt: The cost of managing Britain's civil public sector nuclear waste is included within the estimated total of nuclear liabilities which currently stand at around £48 billion. Reliable estimates of annual costs are hard to identify as there remains considerable uncertainty surrounding both the total of the liabilities, and the ongoing operational imperatives and constraints at individual nuclear sites. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which is intended to be operational from April 2005, will need to establish more certainty on the overall liabilities and annual costs. To this end the government has already started preparation of lifecycle baselines for NDA sites that will provide the basis for estimating the costs of clean up going forward. The NDA will be operating within the overall framework of Government policy on decommissioning and waste management and will need to manage the clean up programme accordingly.
	In the longer term, the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) will make recommendations to ministers about the long-term strategy for managing UK radioactive waste.

Precious Metal Articles

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry from which other EU member states the sale of precious metal articles in the UK has been validated for sale by the hallmark of that member state; and whether such a validation process applied to past hallmarked articles from those member states.

Gerry Sutcliffe: As a signatory to the Vienna Convention, the UK accepts items marked with the Common Control Mark (CCM) without additional marking and testing. Other member states belonging to the Convention and entitled to use the CCM are: Austria, Finland, Portugal, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands. Following the ECJ Houtwipper judgment in 1999, the UK has also recognised the hallmarks of other EU member states without a CCM where they have been marked by independent assay offices. This includes France, Ireland, Portugal, the Netherlands and some Spanish marks.

Precious Metal Articles

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports and recommendations her Department has received since 1998 relating to the draft Directive on Articles of Precious Metal; and to what extent their recommendations have been followed.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The DTI has received a number of reports and recommendations from stakeholders about the draft Directive. The majority of these have been against the proposals. Since we believe that the draft Directive would effectively weaken consumer protection, and there was little support for a change of system, the UK did not support the Directive in Council Working Group discussions. At Coreper (Committee of Permanent Representatives to the EU), it was decided that the draft Directive and Progress Report would not go forward to the Council of Ministers on 27 November because of the lack of agreement.

Re-branding

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what business support schemes and organisations within her Department have been re-branded within the last two years; and what the cost was of each re-branding exercise.

Patricia Hewitt: No existing business support schemes or organisations within my Department have been re-branded within the last two years. Four new business support products were launched in spring 2003; these and future DTI business support products have to conform with DTI corporate brand guidelines which aim to standardise design and eliminate the cost of developing unnecessary new brand identities.
	I have joint responsibility with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for UK Trade and Investment, which recently brought together British Trade International, Trade Partners UK and Invest.UK under a single worldwide corporate identity at a cost of £600,000. Consequential savings of £250,000 per year are anticipated through the use of commonly branded stationery and promotional materials.

Regulatory Accountability

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times the Ministerial Panel for Regulatory Accountability has met since its formation.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	It has been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees. This practice is now formalised by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Staff Efficiency

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the outcomes of inefficiency proceedings initiated against members of staff in each of the past five years; how many involved (a) office transfers, (b) resignations and (c) dismissals; and what the ethnic background of the individuals concerned was in each year.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 3 December 2003
	The DTI does not collect statistics on inefficiency proceedings initiated in each of the past five years in the form requested. The total number of dismissals for inefficiency in DTI HQ in the period June 1998 to November 2003 was 16.

Wind Farms

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what research her Department is undertaking to establish the potential impact of offshore wind farms on common scoters; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what action her Department is taking to ensure that common scoters are protected from adverse impacts of proposed offshore wind farm developments; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The DTI itself has not commissioned any research on the potential impact of wind farms on common scoter specifically. A DTI report published in 2001 assessed the effects of offshore wind farms on birds. The report reviewed all contemporary published data from both UK and overseas studies and looked at the effects, if any, that wind farms have on birds including common scoter.
	More recently, a Strategic Environmental Assessment has been completed in advance of the second round of offshore wind farm development. The Environmental Report resulting from the Assessment considers the full range of impacts that might arise from wind farm activity including those affecting birds. The Report also identifies additional studies that need to be carried out. These include further work on the distribution and main flight paths of seabirds including migratory, feeding and roosting patterns and their behavioural response to wind farms.
	The University of Wales at Bangor is close to completing a project on the potential displacement of birds (especially common scoter) from benthic feeding areas because of the impact of wind turbines. The Bangor study is being carried out on behalf of COWRIE (Collaborative Offshore Wind Farm Research in the Environment), a body which includes members drawn from the Crown Estate, Government, offshore wind farm developers and environmental groups.
	Before any offshore wind farm can be developed, a number of statutory consents are required—especially under either the Electricity Act, the Food and Environment Protection Act (FEPA) and the Coast Protection Act or under the Transport and Works Act and FEPA. As part of the application process for Electricity Act and Transport and Works Act consents, the applicant has to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment, the product of which is an Environmental Statement. This document addresses the potential environmental impacts (including those affecting bird populations) of the projects under application. In determining the application, the Secretary of State will consider any likely impacts on the environment including on any European sites in line with the requirements of the Birds and Habitats Directives. Any decisions about granting consents for offshore wind farms will consider advice provided by the statutory nature conservation bodies and other interested parties about their impact on the marine environment.
	Any consent granted in response to an application may include conditions that will minimise and monitor impacts. Since the Food and Environment Protection Act specifically addresses the protection of the marine environment, it is likely that conditions relating to seabirds would be incorporated into any licence issued under this Act.

Wind Farms

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to hold a public inquiry into Cirrus Energy's proposed offshore wind farm development at Shell Flat, Liverpool Bay; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Cirrus Energy has applied for consent for the proposed Shell Flat offshore wind farm under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA). The TWA process requires that a decision is taken on which one of three processes will be used to consider objections to an application for consent: a public inquiry, a hearing or an exchange of correspondence. The timing of this decision can be varied at the request of the applicant for the Order or at the instigation of the Secretary of State.
	No decision has yet been taken on how to deal with the objections to the Shell Flat proposal.

DEFENCE

Al Yamamah Programme

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what his Ministry's obligations are under the Government-to-Government arrangements with Saudi Arabia concerning the Al Yamamah programme;
	(2)  if he will publish the terms of reference for the Director-General of the Saudi Armed Forces Project.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence's obligation in respect of the Al Yamamah programme are covered in Government-to-Government arrangements, the details of which are confidential between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabian Governments. The Director-General of the Saudi Armed Forces Project (DGSAP) is responsible for fulfilling the Department's obligation under these arrangements. DGSAP and his staff are involved in the negotiation of the Al Yamamah contracts, monitoring the progress and performance of the programme prime contractor in the delivery of goods and services to the Saudi armed forces and, when satisfied, endorsing claims made by the prime contractor in accordance with the terms of the contracts for payment by the Saudi Government.

Flying Hours (RAF Marham)

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours on average were flown by RAF pilots based at RAF Marham in each month over the past two years.

Adam Ingram: The information in the table. shows the number of hours flown on average by pilots based at RAF Marham, by month. These figures include hours flown by exchange pilots from foreign air forces serving with RAF Squadrons based at the Station, as these are not recorded separately. On average there are two such pilots at the Station, and they would normally fly at the same rate as RAF pilots. The figures include hours flown by Marham-based pilots deployed on Operation TELIC, hence the increase in March and April 2003.
	
		
			 Month Average hours per pilot 
		
		
			 December 2001 29.97 
			 January 2002 32.93 
			 February 2002 28.55 
			 March 2003 38.28 
			 April 2002 35.85 
			 May 2002 31.11 
			 June 2002 30.07 
			 July 2002 40.11 
			 August 2002 31.71 
			 September 2002 37.55 
			 October 2002 38.86 
			 November 2002 25.16 
			 December 2002 21.28 
			 January 2003 29.32 
			 February 2003 29.08 
			 March 2003 47.44 
			 April 2003 97.30 
			 May 2003 25.65 
			 June 2003 37.78 
			 July 2003 32.87 
			 August 2003 33.70 
			 September 2003 30.87 
			 October 2003 31.42

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many deaths in custody there have been since the start of the Iraq conflict of Iraqis (a) under UK responsibility, (b) under US responsibility and (c) under the responsibility of other authorities in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: There have been six recorded deaths of Iraqis while in the custody of UK Forces all of which are being investigated. The number of deaths of Iraqis in custody of authorities other than UK Forces is a matter for those authorities.

Joint Strike Fighter

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on technology transfer agreements which have been concluded between BAE systems and the US Administration on the Joint Strike Fighter Project.

Adam Ingram: BAE Systems has recently concluded negotiation of an updated technology transfer agreement, marking a significant step on the path towards achievement of its full participation in the Joint Strike Fighter development programme. With the involvement of the company, a plan has been drawn up to identify future key technology transfer milestones, in order to ensure that further updates are signed when required.

Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pages of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation his Department put through Parliament in 2002–03.

Adam Ingram: My Department did not sponsor any primary legislation during the 2002–03 session.
	In the case of secondary legislation my Department was responsible for the making of 11 General Statutory Instruments which would have been considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments or the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments. These instruments made a total of 53 pages.

Low-flying

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the NATO requirements for low-flying military training are for 2004;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with NATO colleagues on changes in the requirements for low-flying military training;
	(3)  what recent changes there have been in NATO policy on low-flying military training.

Ivor Caplin: NATO sets the minimum standards for low-flying military training but does not have a separate policy on how to achieve these standards. Nations are responsible for their own training to achieve what is required of them and make their own arrangements for any low-flying training which they deem necessary. There are no foreseeable changes to this position in 2004 and I have not been involved in discussions with NATO on this issue.

Military Deployment

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Air Force, (c) Army and (d) civilian MoD personnel are on deployment to (i) NATO HQ in Brussels (ii) NATO Southern Command and (iii) other NATO command centres; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As at 1 December 2003, the number of United Kingdom Ministry of Defence armed forces and civilian personnel in NATO HQs was as follows:
	
		
			  Naval service RAF Army Civilian Total 
		
		
			 NATO HQ 20 15 22 16 73 
			 Southern Region 147 99 98 0 344 
			 Other HQs 258 529 459 1 1,247 
			 Total 425 643 579 17 1,664 
		
	
	In addition, the Ministry of Defence has a small number of people on secondment to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that work within the NATO organisation.

Military Deployment

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military diplomatic personnel have been deployed to the United States in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: During the last five years since November 1998, 26 Service Attachés have been deployed to the United States. These are broken down as follows:
	Three Defence Attachés (also the Head of the British Defence Staff, Washington)
	Three Naval Attachés and five Assistant Naval Attachés
	Three Military (Army) Attachés and three Assistant Military Attachés
	Three Air Attachés and three Assistant Air Attachés
	Three Heads of British Defence Intelligence Liaison Staff
	There is overlap due to some of the Attachés commencing duty prior to November 1998.

Military Tours

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether a 24-month gap between tours has been achieved for (a) the 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots and (b) the 1st Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the (a) shortest and (b) longest gap between tours experienced by (i) the 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots and (ii) the 1st Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers was since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Army's Harmony guidelines recommend a tour interval of 24 months between each six month operational tour, per Army Battalion. Since 1997, the 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots and the 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers have both experienced a gap of at least 24 months between operational tours.
	The 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots have undertaken two unaccompanied operational tours since 1997, with a gap of 36 months between them. In addition they have completed a two year residential (accompanied by families) tour in Northern Ireland.
	The 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, have completed four operational tours since 1997. The longest and shortest gaps between these tours are 26 months and 10 months respectively.

Milk Tankers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many civilian milk tankers have been converted to military refuelling tankers; and how many of them have been deployed to Iraq;
	(2)  what the (a) cost and (b) life expectancy of a (i) converted milk tanker and (ii) custom built oil tanker is; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: No civilian milk tankers have been converted to military refuelling tankers.
	The Wheeled Tanker programme, which will provide 357 tankers to carry fuel (300) and water (57) at a cost of £171 million, is planned to come into service in February 2005 and will have a 15 year life.

Network-centric Warfare

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential of network-centric warfare in the future tactics of the (a) United Kingdom and (b) United States armed forces; and what plans he has to adopt it.

Geoff Hoon: Developing a networked capability is fundamental to achieving desired effects in joint and coalition warfighting. It offers the potential for dramatic increases in tempo—the ability to make better quality decisions and act more quickly and with greater agility, control and precision.
	The Ministry of Defence has commissioned research to assess the positive impact of Network Centric Warfare, which we in the United Kingdom refer to as Networked Enabled Capability. At this stage, the preliminary results of this study indicate that Networked Enabled Capability will have a very positive impact on the operational effectiveness of our armed forces. The study is due to report next year and it is anticipated that it will produce detailed results demonstrating the benefit. Additionally, the MOD is collaborating and providing data for a United States Department of Defense (US DOD) study which is looking at the benefit delivered by Networked Enabled Capability. The outcome of this work is expected in the summer of next year.

Northern Ireland

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many soldiers from Scottish battalions have been stationed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate his Department has made of the number of soldiers required in future years;
	(2)  how many British soldiers have been stationed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate his Department has made of the number of soldiers required in future years.

Adam Ingram: The number of Army personnel stationed in Northern Ireland, in each of the last 10 years, is as follows:
	
		
			 Date as at 31 October Number of army personnel 
		
		
			 1994 16,960 
			 1995 15,680 
			 1996 15,060 
			 1997 15,250 
			 1998 14,100 
			 1999 13,130 
			 2000 12,240 
			 2001 12,540 
			 2002 12,830 
			 2003 12,300 
		
	
	Information on the exact number of soldiers from Scottish battalions who have been stationed in Northern Ireland in each of the last ten years, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I can, however, list those Scottish battalions that have served in Northern Ireland over the last 10 years. The minimum manning strength for an infantry battalion in Northern Ireland is 550.
	
		
			 Date Battalion 
		
		
			 April 1992-December 1994 1st Battalion, The King's Owns Scottish Borderers 
			 September 1992-March 1993 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots 
			 November 1992-May 1993 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Highlanders 
			 May 1994-November 1994 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 
			 June 1994-December 1994 1st Battalion, The Scots Guards 
			 December 1994-April 1995 1st Battalion, The Highlanders 
			 May 1995-November 1995 1st Battalion, The Black Watch 
			 September 1995-April 1997 1st Battalion, The Highlanders 
			 October 1995-March 1996 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots 
			 November 1995-May 1996 1st Battalion, The King's Owns Scottish Borderers 
			 May 1996-November 1996 1st Battalion, The Scots Guards 
			 February 1997-February 1999 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 
			 May 1997-November 1997 1st Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers 
			 June 1997-December 1997 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots 
			 September 1997-March 1998 1st Battalion, The King's Owns Scottish Borderers 
			 March 1998-March 2000 1st Battalion, The Scots Guards 
			 June 1998-November 1998 1st Battalion, The Highlanders 
			 December 1998-May 1999 1st Battalion, The Black Watch 
			 March 1999-August 1999 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots 
			 January 2000-April 2000 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 
			 June 2000-December 2000 1st Battalion, The Highlanders 
			 September 2000-April 2002 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots 
			 March 2001-March 2003 1st Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers 
			 March 2001-March 2003 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 
			 June 2001-November 2001 1st Battalion, The Scots Guards 
			 September 2001-March 2002 1st Battalion, The King's Owns Scottish Borderers 
		
	
	All military force structures are based on operational need given the current and future security environment in which the armed forces are likely to operate. Until there is agreement on Security Normalisation in Northern Ireland, it would be premature to come to any conclusions on the future composition of the Northern Ireland garrison.

Personnel Costs

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many people work for the (a) Army Personnel Centre and (b) Army Training and Recruiting Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and how these figures compare to the previous year;
	(2)  how many people work for the (a) Warship Support Agency and (b) Defence Procurement Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and what the figures were 12 months previously;
	(3)  how many people work for (a) the Defence Housing Executive and (b) the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and what these figures were 12 months previously;
	(4)  how many people work for (a) Defence Estates and (b) the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and how these figures compare to 12 months previously;
	(5)  how many people work for the Defence Dental Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of the agency are; and what the equivalent figures were 12 months previously;
	(6)  how many people work for the (a) Defence Transport and Movements Agency and (b) Medical Supplies Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and what the figures were 12 months previously;
	(7)  how many people work for the (a) Defence Communications Services Agency and (b) Defence Storage and Distribution Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and what the figures were 12 months previously;
	(8)  how many people work for (a) the MOD Police and (b) the Defence Bills Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and what the equivalent figures were 12 months previously;
	(9)  how many people work for (a) the Naval Manning Agency and (b) Service Children's Education; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and how these figures compare to the previous year;
	(10)  how many people work for (a) the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency and (b) the Defence Analytical Services Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and what the figures were 12 months previously;
	(11)  how many people work for the (a) Veterans Agency and (b) British Forces Post Office; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency were in 2002–03; and what the figures were 12 months previously;
	(12)  how many people work for the (a) Queen Victoria School and (b) Duke of York's Royal Military School; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and how these figures compare to the previous year;
	(13)  how many people work for the (a) Naval Recruiting and Training Agency, (b) RAF Personnel Manning Agency and (c) RAF Training Group Defence Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and how these figures compare to the previous year;
	(14)  how many people work for the (a) Defence Vetting Agency and (b) Defence Medical Education and Training Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and how these figures compare to those 12 months previously;
	(15)  how many people work for the (a) Disposal Services Agency and (b) Pay and Personnel Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency are; and what the figures were 12 months previously.

Ivor Caplin: Figures for service and civilian personnel and overall staff costs relating to each organisation are provided below. Information on numbers of service personnel working in Scotland is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Civilian Scotland(1),(2),(3) Civilian total(1),(2),(3) Servicetotal(4) Total staff costs (£000)(5) 
		
		
			 Financial year 2001–02
			 Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency 110 230 170 11,609 
			 Army Personnel Centre 680 750 163 25,554 
			 Army Training and Recruitment Agency 100 4,250 7,030 504,546 
			 British Forces Post Office 10 340 170 12,009 
			 Defence Analytical Services Agency (6)— 150 (6)— 4,040 
			 Defence Bills Agency (6)— 580 (6)— 10,994 
			 Defence Communication Services Agency 110 3,050 1,620 153,150 
			 Defence Dental Agency 10 160 (7)— 36,887 
			 Defence Estates 110 1,360 10 46,099 
			 Defence Geographic Imagery Intelligence Agency (6)— 690 620 42,484 
			 Defence Housing Executive 90 940 (6)— 22,092 
			 Defence Intelligence and Security Centre (6)— 140 350 13,685 
			 Defence Medical Education and Training Agency(8) (9)— (9)— (7)— (9)— 
			 Defence Procurement Agency 130 3,730 650 234,336 
			 Defence Storage and Distribution Agency 20 2,750 100 63,478 
			 Defence Transport and Movements Agency (6)— 310 100 11,420 
			 Defence Vetting Agency (6)— 260 (6)— 7,555 
			 Disposal Services Agency (6)— 80 (6)— 22,092 
			 Duke of York's Royal Military School (6)— 110 (6)— 3,189 
			 Medical Supplies Agency 10 270 (7)— 6,919 
			 Ministry of Defence Police 820 3,260 (6)— 152,961 
			 Naval Manning Agency (6)— 110 200 12,851 
			 Naval Recruiting and Training Agency 10 1,000 (10)6,720 145,030 
			 Pay and Personnel Agency (6)— 660 (6)— 13,110 
			 Queen Victoria School 70 70 (6)— 2,043 
			 RAF Personnel Management Agency (6)— 240 (11)780 14,732 
			 RAF Training Group Defence Agency 50 2,050 3,780 307,512 
			 Service Children's Education (6)— 730 (6)— 45,478 
			 Veterans Agency 10 880 (6)— 18,658 
			 Warship Support Agency(12),(13) 2,500 7,680 440 335,291 
			  
			 Financial year 2002–03
			 Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency 20 170 200 14,296 
			 Army Personnel Centre 680 810 170 23,070 
			 Army Training and Recruitment Agency 60 4,240 6,630 552,262 
			 British Forces Post Office 10 380 160 13,501 
			 Defence Analytical Services Agency (6)— 140 (6)— 4,419 
			 Defence Bills Agency (6)— 590 (6)— 11,492 
			 Defence Communication Services Agency 150 3,180 1,500 160,050 
			 Defence Dental Agency 10 160 730 38,210 
			 Defence Estates 110 1,500 20 52,105 
			 Defence Geographic Imagery Intelligence Agency (6)— 760 660 43,351 
			 Defence Housing Executive 90 880 (6)— 21,841 
			 Defence Intelligence and Security Centre (6)— 140 310 14,382 
			 Defence Medical Education and Training Agency(8) (6)— 630 1,410 (9)— 
			 Defence Procurement Agency 110 3,730 670 187,254 
			 Defence Storage and Distribution Agency 770 4,460 180 67,666 
			 Defence Transport and Movements Agency (6)— 290 100 11,300 
			 Defence Vetting Agency (6)— 290 (6)— 7,469 
			 Disposal Services Agency (6)— 70 10 3,563 
			 Duke of York's Royal Military School (6)— 100 (6)— 3,410 
			 Medical Supplies Agency 10 260 30 7,240 
			 Ministry of Defence Police 800 3,220 (6)— 148,971 
			 Naval Manning Agency (6)— 110 240 14,143 
			 Naval Recruiting and Training Agency 10 1,040 (10)2,360 146,066 
			 Day and Personnel Agency (6)— 690 (6)— 14,200 
			 Queen Victoria School 70 70 (6)— 2,168 
			 RAF Personnel Management Agency (6)— 210 (11)180 14,294 
			 RAF Training Group Defence Agency 50 2,010 3,800 327,019 
			 Service Children's Education (6)— 710 (6)— 54,684 
			 Veterans Agency 10 810 (6)— 18,749 
			 Warship Support Agency(12),(13),(14) 1,100 5,100 2,440 297,249 
		
	
	(1) Figures refer to permanent staff only and include proportionate values for part time staff.
	(2) All figures are rounded to the nearest 10, as a result totals may not always equal the sum of the parts.
	(3) Personnel information is collected and presented in different forms across MOD according to local management need, as a result the figures in this table may differ slightly from those in other published sources such as the Agencies' Annual Reports and Accounts.
	(4) Strength of UK regular forces.
	(5) Taken from Agencies' Annual Reports and Accounts 2002–03.
	(6) Zero or less than six.
	(7) Not available.
	(8) Defence Medical Education and Training Agency—launched on 1 April 2003, subsumed responsibilities of the Defence Medical Training Organisation and the Defence Secondary Care Agency.
	(9) Not applicable.
	(10) 2003 figure excludes untrained personnel paid for by NRTA but not employed directly by the Agency.
	(11) 2003 figure excludes non-productive and untrained personnel paid for by the PMA but not employed directly by the Agency.
	(12) 2002 figures based on "New Management System" data, 2003 figures based on Resource Accounting and Budgeting data.
	(13) 2003 figure includes personnel previously employed by the Naval Bases and Supply Agency.
	(14) The figures take accounts of the Clyde Dockland PFI initiative.
	Note:
	Figures as at 1 April of financial year end.

Surge Capacity

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the original target date for the completion of work on surge capacity was; what the reasons were for the delay; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: We had planned to advise the Defence Committee of the results of the work on the need for a surge capability by the end of 2002. It took longer than anticipated to obtain all the relevant background information, but this meant that we were able to take account of the Ministry of Defence Police's experience in meeting extra commitments during Operation TELIC. The work resulted in recommendations for a modest increase in capability, including improved co-ordination and responsiveness.

TREASURY

Parliamentary Questions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research has been undertaken into the reasons for differences in the average cost of answering parliamentary questions between government departments.

Ruth Kelly: No research has been undertaken into the reasons for inter-departmental differences in the cost of answering parliamentary questions. The Treasury update the averages cost figures annually, the basis of the calculation having been explained by the Chief Secretary in a written answer on 22 May 2002, Official Report, column 417W. Departments are not obliged to use the average cost figures and can use their own internal costing systems to determine the cost of answering parliamentary questions.

Tax Credits

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many families on average were entitled to claim the Working Families Tax Credit in (a) St. Helens, (b) Merseyside and (c) the North West region for each year since its introduction; and how many in each case are entitled to claim Working Tax Credit;
	(2)  how much Working Families Tax Credit was received on average by an eligible family in (a) St. Helens, (b) Merseyside and (c) the North West region in each year since its introduction.

Dawn Primarolo: There are no estimates below the national level for the take-up rate of Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), or for the number of families entitled to claim it. For estimates of the number of families in each region who are expected to benefit from the Child and Working Tax Credits, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) on 17 December 2002, Official Report, column 733W. No estimates exist for local authorities.
	For each quarter between May 2001 and November 2002, the number of families in each region and local authority receiving tax credits, and the average weekly award, appear in "Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical Analyses". For earlier quarters, sample estimates for each region appear in the WFTC Quarterly Enquiries, but no estimates exist for local authorities. These documents can be found on the Inland Revenue website, at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.

Banking Access

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to ensure the maintenance of banking facilities in sole bank communities and those areas with limited access to bank branches.

Ruth Kelly: Branch closures are commercial decision for banks to make and the Government does not intervene in such decisions. However, the Government expects banks, to consider whether disadvantaged communities have sufficient access to financial services, when making operational decisions.

Banking Access

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the implementation of the revised Banking Code in relation to guidelines on notice periods for branch closures.

Ruth Kelly: The implementation of the Banking Code is a matter for the Banking Code Standards Board, which is responsible for its development, production and continuing revision.

Child Trust Fund

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research has been carried out by the Treasury into the likely impact of the Child Trust Fund on attitudes to savings.

Ruth Kelly: The Child Trust Fund is an initiative with multiple objectives:
	to help people understand the benefits of saving and investing;
	to encourage parents and children to develop the savings habit and engage with financial institutions;
	to ensure that in future all children have a financial asset at te start of adult life to invest in their futures; and
	to build on financial education to help people make better financial choices throughout their lives.
	The Government first consulted on the Child Trust Fund in "Saving and Assets for AH", published in April 2001. The Government received a large number of responses from a wide variety of sources, including financial services providers, consumer organisations, academics, charities and other interested parties. Respondents broadly supported the principles underlying the Child Trust Fund, as reported in the follow-up document "Delivering Savings & Assets", which was published in November 2001. Both of these documents are available on the Treasury website.
	Recent surveys by non-Governmental organisations have also shown that the Child Trust Fund is likely to be a popular initiative with families and has the potential to improve attitudes towards savings.

Child Trust Fund

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact of the Child Trust Fund on the incomes of the (a) poorest quintile of 18-year-olds, (b) the richest quintile of 18-year-olds and (c) other quintiles.

Ruth Kelly: CTF funds are accessible on their holder's 18th birthday and they might have an impact on income at that point because of investment returns, or indirectly thanks to enabling young people to take up opportunities which enhance their incomes. The magnitude of the indirect impact on incomes would depend on a variety of factors.
	It is not possible to give a definitive figure for the impact of the CTF on incomes of the identified groups.

Child Trust Fund

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend aspects of the Child Trust Fund scheme to children born before 1 September 2002.

Ruth Kelly: Eligibility for the Child Trust Fund is already back-dated from its expected launch date in April 2005 to 1 September 2002 to include as many children as possible in the school cohort being born at the time of the Budget 2003 CTF announcement.
	There is already a wide range of savings and investments parents can make for older children. Extending particular aspects of the Child Trust Fund to children born before 1 September 2002 would create another savings product and the risk of confusion. Financial providers will also be in a position to respond to any demand for certain aspects of the Fund.

Child Trust Fund

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what ethical restrictions will be placed on the kind of investments which Child Trust Funds can make.

Ruth Kelly: The Government understand that people may object to certain types of accounts because of their ethical or religious beliefs. In recent years there has been a growth in 'ethical' investment funds and there is increasing interest in funds compliant with Islamic Shariah law.
	The Government would welcome CTF providers including products which are compatible with ethical or religious beliefs. We are not proposing to prohibit investment in non-ethical funds—as this would be hard to police, and consumers will be able to exercise their choice.

Child Trust Fund

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether matching funds available under the Savings Gateway will be provided for contributions to child trust funds.

Ruth Kelly: The Saving Gateway is at the pilot stage and is being evaluated for its effect on savings behaviour. The final evaluation report is expected in February 2005 and an update will be provided following the pre-Budget report.

Child Trust Fund

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether charges by child trust fund providers will be capped.

Ruth Kelly: A decision on the charge cap for the CTF will be announced shortly.

Child Trust Fund

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expected cost is to the Exchequer of child trust funds for each of the next 25 years.

Ruth Kelly: Estimates of the cost in the first three years were published in Budget 2003 and will be updated in the pre-Budget report. The bulk of the cost to the Exchequer consists of the Annually Managed Expenditure for the initial Government endowments, which varies with birth cohort size and is therefore expected to be relatively stable after 2005–06. Costs to the Exchequer due to the tax loss from the small proportion of savings that would otherwise have been in taxable savings vehicles are negligible in the initial years and may then rise slowly, until the first accounts mature in 18 years. After this the cost of the tax loss is expected to remain stable. Tax loss will be small or negligible compared to the costs of the endowments. Estimates are not available for the cost of any further Government contributions at age 7 as the value of these has yet to be decided.

Child Trust Fund

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who will be responsible for regulating child trust funds.

Ruth Kelly: The proposed arrangements build on the structure that operates effectively for ISAs.
	CTF providers will be FSA authorised. The FSA ensures that all FSA—authorised firms are run in a prudent and financially sound way and regulates their business practices, including the sales process.
	Inland Revenue auditors will ensure that providers claim Government payments and tax relief correctly, building on the way ISAs are currently audited.

Child Trust Fund

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expected cost is of the planned information programme about child trust funds.

Ruth Kelly: One of the key aims of the CTF is to improve financial literacy and help people make better financial choices throughout their life.
	The Government has commissioned research into how best to communicate information about the CTF and the financial decisions involved, with a view to addressing the needs in particular of parents with little or no experience of savings and investment.
	Until this research is completed and the information programme is fully specified and finalised, it is not possible to provide an exact figure for the expected cost of this programme, although it forms part of current forecasts of the overall Revenue implementation costs for the CTF.

Consumer Prices (Harmonised Index)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to link index-linked government securities to the harmonised index of consumer prices; and what estimate he has made of the change in debt servicing obligations which would result.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 3 December 2003
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his statement on Economic and Monetary Union on 9 June that, in the event that the government confirms it will move to an inflation target based on the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) in the pre-Budget Report on 10 December 2003, there will be no change from the use of the general index of retail prices (RPI) for calculating the inflation uplift on index-linked gilts.

Economic Growth (St. Helens)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of economic growth in the St. Helens area for each year since 1992.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Woodward, dated 4 December 2003
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on economic growth in the St Helens area for each year since 1992. (141305)
	The nearest geography for that area for which a measure of economic activity (that is gross value added (GVA)) is East Merseyside; this includes St Helens and Knowsley.
	The estimates in tables A and B are based on the regional GVA estimates published in August and October 2003 for regional (North West) and sub-regional (Merseyside) data and April 2001 for the local area (East Merseyside) data. These are available on the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vink=7359.
	Growth rates are normally calculated on the basis of data at constant prices. However, regional Gross Value Added (GVA) data are only available on a current price basis, in the absence of regional deflators or volume measures. The growth rates shown in the table below will therefore include the effects of inflation.
	Estimates for East Merseyside consistent with the sub-regional data up to 2001 will be published on 11 December 2003.
	
		Gross Value Added (GVA) by NUTS 1, 2 and 3 areas(15) at current basic prices(16)Table A—GVA -- £ million
		
			   
			  1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 United Kingdom(20) 536,475 564,781 597,002 626,703 663,148 705,851 749,688 781,847 816,111 851,408 
			 North West 58,078 60,954 64,159 66,887 69,905 73,670 77,698 80,836 84,058 87,584 
			 Merseyside — — — 10,781 11,308 11,985 12,733 13,215 13,692 14,221 
			 East Merseyside(21) — — — 2,328 2,477 2,526 2,759 — — — 
		
	
	(15) NUTS (Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics) is a hierarchical classification of areas that provides a breakdown of the EU's economic territory.
	(16) Estimates for GVA at NUTS 1 level are consistent with those published on 20 August 2003. Data from 1997 onwards are provisional.
	(17) Estimates for GVA at NUTS 2 level are consistent with those published on 31 October 2003. Data from 1997 onwards are provisional.
	(18) Includes taxes less subsidies on production.
	(19) Components may not sum to totals due to founding.
	(20) Excluding GVA for Extra-regio, which comprises compensation of employees and gross operating surplus which cannot be assigned to regions.
	(21) Data at Nuts 3 level are provisional and consistent with those published on 26 April 2001.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	
		Table B— Growth rates: percentage change on previous year
		
			  1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 United Kingdom(22) 4.4 5.3 5.7 5.0 5.8 6.4 6.2 4.3 4.4 4.3 
			 North West 4.5 5.0 5.3 4.3 4.5 5.4 5.5 4.0 4.0 4.2 
			 Merseyside — — — — 4.9 6.0 6.2 3.8 3.6 3.9 
			 East Merseyside(23) — — — — 6.4 2.0 9.2 — — — 
		
	
	(22) Excluding GVA for Extra-regio, which comprises compensation of employees and gross operating surplus which cannot be assigned to regions.
	(23) Data at Nuts 3 level are provisional and consistent with those published on 26 April 2001.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Identity Cards

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for his Department.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to him on 19 November 2003, Official Report, column 1095W.

Income Tax

Paul Beresford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much additional revenue would be raised from the residents of each of the district councils in Surrey for every penny increase in the basic rate of income tax.

Dawn Primarolo: The requested information is given in the following table.
	
		Additional full-year yield of increasing the basic rate of tax by 1p in 2000–01
		
			 District councils in Surrey £ million 
		
		
			 Elmbridge 8.7 
			 Epsom and Ewell 6.1 
			 Guildford 10.1 
			 Mole Valley 5.0 
			 Reigate and Banstead 9.1 
			 Runnymede 5.0 
			 Spelthorne 6.4 
			 Surrey Heath 7.4 
			 Tandridge 5.3 
			 Waverley 8.6 
			 Woking 6.2 
		
	
	Estimates are based upon the 2000–01 Survey of Personal Incomes. The effects of the illustrative changes can be scaled up or down over a reasonably wide range. The results exclude any behavioural response to the tax change.

Tax Credits

Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether caps will be set on the amount of recovery sought from individual claimants arising from overpayment of tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the Inland Revenue's Code of Practice "What happens when you have paid too much tax credits". The code was placed on the Inland Revenue web site on Tuesday 11 November. A copy can be found in the House of Commons Library.

Tobacco (Tax)

Kevin Barron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the purchase price is paid in taxation for an average (a) packet of 20 cigarettes, (b) 250g of hand-rolling tobacco, (c) packet of five cigars and (d) 250g of pipe tobacco in each country in the European Union.

John Healey: Information on retail price and taxation for a packet of 20 cigarettes in each country in the European Union can be found in the HM Customs and Excise 'Tobacco Factsheet' page 15, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
	The following table shows the proportion of the purchase price that is paid in taxation for a packet of 20 cigarettes in each country in the EU. The information requested on other tobacco products is not available.
	
		Cigarettes—packet of 20 cigarettes
		
			  Total tax as percentage of RSP 
		
		
			 Austria 76.3 
			 Belgium 78.0 
			 Germany 76.9 
			 Denmark 86.7 
			 Greece 75.5 
			 Spain 74.0 
			 Finland 79.6 
			 France 81.0 
			 United Kingdom 81.2 
			 Ireland 96.0 
			 Italy 78.0 
			 Luxembourg 72.1 
			 Netherlands 76.0 
			 Portugal 80.8 
			 Sweden 74.9 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures for France and Ireland have been updated with later information to take account of recent rate changes and correct an error, respectively.
	Source:
	European Commission Excise Duty Tables: September 2003

Tobacco (Tax)

Kevin Barron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the amount is in (a) pounds sterling equivalent and (b) percentage of purchase price of (i) specified excise duty, (ii) ad valorem excise duty and (iii) VAT and other sales tax levied on an average packet of 20 cigarettes in each country in the European Union.

John Healey: The amounts and percentages of specific duty, ad valorem and VAT on a packet of 20 cigarettes in each of the European Union countries are given in the following table:
	
		Cigarettes—packet of 20 cigarettes
		
			  Specific duty (£) Ad valorem (£) VAT (£) Specific duty as percentage of retail price Ad valorem as percentage of retail price VAT as percentage of retail price 
		
		
			 Austria 0.30 0.88 0.42 14.3 42 20 
			 Belgium 0.26 1.07 0.49 11.2 46 21 
			 Germany 0.86 0.57 0.38 36.6 24 16 
			 Denmark 1.14 0.60 0.70 40.5 21 25 
			 Greece 0.06 0.94 0.31 3.6 54 18 
			 Spain 0.05 0.73 0.22 4.0 54 16 
			 Finland 0.21 1.40 0.61 7.6 50 22 
			 France 0.11 1.86 0.63 3.3 58 20 
			 United Kingdom 1.94 1.02 0.81 41.7 22 18 
			 Ireland 1.74 0.57 0.65 56.6 18 21 
			 Italy 0.05 0.78 0.29 3.7 54 20 
			 Luxembourg 0.17 0.76 0.24 10.3 47 15 
			 Netherlands 0.77 0.43 0.40 36.5 21 19 
			 Portugal 0.57 0.34 0.28 38.8 23 19 
			 Sweden 0.31 1.13 0.72 10.7 39 25 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures for France and Ireland have been updated with later information to take account of recent changes and correct an error, respectively.
	Source:
	European Commission Excise Duty Tables: September 2003

Tobacco (Tax)

Kevin Barron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from each of the taxes payable on each category of tobacco product in the last year for which figures are available.

John Healey: Excise duty and estimated VAT revenue for tobacco can be found in the HM Customs and Excise Tobacco Factsheet' pages 1 and 2, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
	Figures showing revenue raised from duty on each category of tobacco are available up to the year 2002–03. Estimates for VAT raised are only available for tobacco products as a whole and the most recent year is 2001–02.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Albatrosses and Petrels

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures have so far been taken to implement the Action Plan contained in the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Agreement and its associated Action Plan formally come into effect three months after the fifth range state has ratified the Agreement. South Africa became that fifth state in November. The Agreement will therefore enter into force on 1 February 2004.
	However, a number of measures in the Action Plan are already being taken forward. For example, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has agreed international action plans which seek to reduce the threat to the birds from longline fishing. The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) also has such measures. Data are now being collected on foraging areas and migration routes using satellite tracking and "at sea" observations, which will help target the conservation effort—British scientists are involved in this. The Falkland Islands are also already monitoring their colonies, preventing tourist disturbance and looking to tackle the threat from rats.

Animal Husbandry

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on (a) the fact that the slaughter premium is not payable on animals slaughtered on farm and (b) that it remains a fineable offence for farmers to move the animal from farms receiving no compensation under the rules of the slaughter premium.

Alun Michael: No representations have been received about the ineligibility for slaughter premium of animals slaughtered on farm. It is not a fineable offence for farmers to remove these animals from farms provided they are disposed of in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Departmental Recruits (Apprenticeships)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will establish a three-month apprenticeship to be spent on farms, at an auction mart and in other rural situations for every new recruit to her Department.

Alun Michael: New recruits attend a 'Welcome to Defra' event, which outlines Defra's aims and objectives, but, most induction training takes place in the workplace, where staff are encouraged to make outside visits to raise awareness of specific issues and to meet those involved. Resource restraints and equal opportunities policies do not make a three-month apprenticeship viable. It should be remembered that Defra's responsibilities are wide ranging and include local environmental issues in towns and cities as well as an interest in all matters effecting rural communities, food issues and environmental issues that range from the local to the global. A full indication of Defra's work is given at www.defra.gov.uk

Flood Defence (Hereford)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when funding promised for flood defence in the City of Hereford will be delivered by (a) the Welsh Assembly and (b) the Government.

Elliot Morley: Defra provides funding for capital flood defence schemes in England which meet set criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score. The Welsh Assembly does not provide funding for flood defence work in England. However the responsibility for deciding on which projects to promote and their timing rests with local operating authorities, such as the Environment Agency. I understand that the Agency's Wye Local Flood Defence Committee gave priority to constructing defences for Hampton Bishop rather than Hereford, but have engaged consultants to determine the viability of flood defence measures for Hereford. I understand that the consultants are due to complete a project appraisal report by June 2004 and the Agency plans to start work on a scheme at Hereford in 2005, if it qualifies for funding.

Flood Defence (Hereford)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason £700,000 has been paid to W. S. Atkins for a design for the flood defences in Hereford City.

Elliot Morley: I understand that to date, the Environment Agency has paid Atkins Water fees totalling £145,000 in relation to the Hereford Flood Alleviation Scheme. The work carried out includes feasibility studies, environmental investigations, hydraulic river modelling, design, public consultation and liaison with other public bodies. A further £155,000 will be paid to Atkins Water by the Agency for completion of the project appraisal report. Detailed design of the scheme will cost an estimated £200,000 which will bring the total expenditure on fees to Atkins Water to approximately £500,000, a sum that the Agency believes reflects the particular complexities associated with the scheme, which is currently forecast to cost some £4.2 million.

Genetic Nation Debate

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission report on issues of liability and coexistence in respect of GM crops;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the possible financial consequences to public funds of setting up a Government liability scheme to protect farmers and growers from the unintended consequences of growing GM crops as set out in the report by the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission into liability and coexistence.

Elliot Morley: The report by the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission was published on 25 November. We are now assessing this and will give our considered response in due course.

GM Maize

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the (a) dose, (b) timing, (c) formulation and (d) method of application of the herbicide selected for use on GM maize in the farm scale evaluations was modelled upon the standard commercially adopted herbicide regimes used on Liberty Link GM maize varieties in (i) the USA and (ii) Hungary.

Elliot Morley: No. The dose, timing, formulation and method of application of glufosinate ammonium ('Liberty') herbicide on fodder maize in the UK farm-scale evaluations was based on the terms of the draft product label in line with the experimental approval for use in UK conditions.

Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many pages of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation her Department put through Parliament in 2002–03.

Alun Michael: Two of the Bills sponsored by the Department during the 2002–03 session were enacted, amounting to a total of 270 pages.
	In the case of secondary legislation the Department was responsible for the making of 120 General Statutory Instruments which were subject to consideration by either the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments or the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments. The total number of pages can be calculated only at disproportionate cost.

Recycled Paper

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to ensure Government Departments buy recycled paper.

Elliot Morley: On 30 October the Government accepted the Sustainable Procurement Group recommendation for the immediate purchase of:
	Copying paper: 100 per cent. recycled content, with minimum 75 per cent. overall content being post-consumer waste;
	Paper for printed publications: minimum 60 per cent. recycled content, with 45 per cent. overall content being post-consumer waste; and
	Kitchen and toilet tissue: 100 per cent. recycled content.
	Central Government already buys a considerable amount of recycled paper, through, for example the DfT Recycled Printing Papers Framework and the OGCbuying.solutions catalogues. Defra and the Office of Government Commerce recently published the revised "Joint Note on Environmental Issues in Purchasing", which provides guidance on sustainable procurement for non-specialists and guides them towards more sustainable purchases.
	Government are currently developing sustainable procurement targets under the "Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate". The targets and online guidance will be published by spring next year.

Rural Payments (Mapping)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from farmers on the way their land is designated in the process of digitalisation of mapping of the land for the purposes of assessing rural payments.

Alun Michael: The Rural Land Register digitisation project does not change the designation of land parcels but it is intended to increase the certainty and accuracy of Defra's records. A small number of farmers have queried changes to the eligible area of their land made as a result of a change to the gross field size. These have been dealt with on an individual basis.

Water Supplies

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans are in place for the provision of water supplies to homes and businesses if low rainfall continues.

Elliot Morley: Each water company has a drought plan which sets out the actions necessary to maintain public water supplies during a drought. Dependent upon the severity of the drought and the effectiveness of the company's earlier actions, a company can apply for drought permits or drought orders to, respectively, the Environment Agency and the Secretary of State if further measures are required.
	In addition, water companies are required, under a Direction issued in 1998 by the Secretary of State, to have in place plans to ensure the provision of essential water supply at all times. These plans are regularly reviewed and are independently audited every year.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Mrs. Sally Clark

George Osborne: To ask the Solicitor-General what the cost to public funds was of the (a) prosecution and (b) imprisonment of Mrs. Sally Clark.

Harriet Harman: The total costs incurred by the Crown Prosecution Service were £320,000 and the prison costs, based on average costs per prisoner, were approximately £111,000.
	Following the appeal of Sally Clark, the Attorney General and I met the Director of Public Prosecution to discuss the implications of the appeal We established a Group comprising the police, Crown Prosecution Service, Home Office and other relevant agencies to consider whether any cases in which Doctor Williams has given important evidence require a more in depth review.
	Interim guidance has been sent to all Chief Crown Prosecutors requesting that all current cases be identified in which either Doctor Williams or Professor Meadow are witnesses. The defence is then to be served with a copy of the judgment in the Sally Clark case and its attention is drawn to sections of the judgment touching on his evidence. Further and fuller guidance will be provided to prosecutors as soon as possible. This will apply to both present and future cases.
	On 28 July, the Inter-Departmental Group held its first meeting. Progress was made in two areas. How previous cases in which Doctor Alan Williams conducted a post mortem were to be identified and what factors would be used to select the cases on which the group should concentrate.
	Following that meeting, work commenced immediately on the identification of cases. Several agencies assisted in respect of this process, with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service taking the lead. The Group set a deadline of mid-September for the conclusion of that process. By that date, approximately 50 previous cases had been identified, which dated back between 5–7 years. These cases all involved charges of murder, manslaughter or infanticide where Doctor Williams had been instructed by the police to conduct the post mortem and which had resulted in a conviction.
	The cases themselves are now being reviewed. An experienced member each of the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service are conducting the review. This work is continuing. It is anticipated that the results of the initial review will be considered early next year.
	The Group is also considering whether the exercise of reviewing cases should be extended to those involving Professor Meadow.
	The Home Office Pathology Advisory Board will understand publish new Codes of Practice and Procedure for Pathologists, which will take account of the judicial comments on the methodology employed by Doctor Williams in the Sally Clark case. Once published, the Codes will be distributed to pathologists.

Rape

Betty Williams: To ask the Solicitor-General, if she will make a statement on measures being taken to improve the conviction rate for those guilty of rape.

Harriet Harman: We are concerned that rape should be properly investigated and effectively prosecuted.
	To make sure that happens, the Crown Prosecution Service are working more closely with the police; ensuring victims are helped to give their evidence, including by video link so that they do not have to attend court; and by ensuring that every case is handled by a specialist rape prosecutor.
	The law on rape has recently been strengthened and clarified as part of the Sexual Offences Act. Progress on tackling sex offences will be assisted by ministers across all departments, including myself, working together as part of a new ministerial, group which will meet shortly.

Crown Prosecution Service(Children's Commissioner)

Meg Munn: To ask the Solicitor-General what support she expects the Crown Prosecution Service will offer to the proposed Children's Commissioner for England.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service looks forward to working with the proposed Commissioner to enable children's views to be fed into policy-making and to inform good practice.

Crown Prosecution Service (Victims)

James Purnell: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on how the National Strategy for Victims and Witnesses will affect the working of the Crown Prosecution Service in dealing with victims of crime.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service worked closely with its criminal justice partners in developing the national strategy and is committed to putting it into practice.

Domestic Violence

Brian Iddon: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on discussions with the Department of Health on ensuring that health professionals are trained in assessing evidence of domestic violence.

Harriet Harman: I have regular discussions with colleagues on the Inter Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence on all aspects of Government policy on domestic violence.
	The health service has an important role to play in identifying and responding to domestic violence. Health care professionals may be the first people to whom women disclose their abuse, and they therefore have a vital role to play in offering support, information and validation.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Disability Living Allowance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for disability living allowance there were from people under 20 disabled by mental illness in (a) England and (b) each region in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The number of people under age 20 who are disabled by mental illness and have been awarded disability living allowance is set out in the following table. The information is for England and Wales, is also set out by Government Office Region and is the only geographically based data available.
	
		Number of new awards for each year ending 31 May for people under age 20 whose main disabling condition is mental illness, by Government Office Region -- Thousand
		
			  May 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 All 6.8 9.0 9.8 11.0 13.1 14.3 14.9 
			 England 5.9 7.1 7.9 9.0 11.2 11.8 12.7 
			 North East 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.6 
			 North West 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.7 1.7 1.8 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 0.8 0.7 0.9 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.0 
			 East Midlands 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.9 1.2 
			 West Midlands 0.7 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.4 1.3 1.4 
			 East 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.4 1.4 
			 London 0.7 0.9 1.0 1.3 1.2 1.5 1.5 
			 South East 1.0 1.3 1.4 1.7 2.2 2.1 2.5 
			 South West 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.1 
			 Wales 0.5 0.9 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.8 1.0 
			 Scotland 0.4 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.8 1.2 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Figures are for 12 month ending 31 May each year
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample

Disability Rights Commission

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will arrange for a reply from the chief executive of the Disability Rights Commission to the letter dated 28 October from the hon. Member for Walsall, North arising from representations from the local community health council; and if he will ask the chief executive to provide an explanation for the reasons for (a) the delay and (b) the absence of an acknowledgement letter;
	(2)  if he will ensure the Disability Rights Commission replies promptly to correspondence and telephone calls which require a response.

Maria Eagle: I understand the Chief Executive of the Disability Rights Commission has written to my hon. Friend with a full reply which addresses all the concerns raised by his constituent.
	I meet the Chair and Chief Executive of the DRC regularly to review the DRC's performance and place great importance on the Commission delivering its services with due regard to timeliness and quality. Independent surveys of the DRC's services record high levels of satisfaction from service users.

Widowers' Benefits

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much it cost to present the United Kingdom's case when the right of widowers' benefits was considered in all courts above the level of appeal tribunal in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The costs to the Department of presenting the Government's and United Kingdom's case in litigation cases is not routinely collected and the information requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Conditional Fees

David Laws: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when he expects to publish his Department's responses to its consultations on (a) the conditional fee agreement regime, (b) proposed changes to publicly-funded immigration and asylum work and (c) delivering value for money in the Criminal Defence Service.

Christopher Leslie: The information is as follows:
	(a) The consultation period on the conditional fee agreement regime was extended to end of October and we expect to publish a response by spring next year.
	(b) The Government made an announcement on 27 November unveiling new measures aimed at cutting out abuses of the public-funded immigration and asylum system. The changes include an accreditation scheme for lawyers, a unique file number for asylum cases and a reduction in the amount of legally-aided advice offered to applicants.
	(c) The Government will also shortly be publishing its response to the consultation on delivering value for money in the Criminal Defence Service.

Legal Advice

Lynne Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the availability of legal advice through contracts with the Legal Services Commission for (a) family matters and (b) asylum application appeals; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: There are currently 3,592 solicitors' offices contracted by the Legal Services Commission to provide publicly-funded advice and representation in the family category of law in England and Wales. In addition,the Commission contracts with three Not for Profit agencies for the provision of advice in family matters.
	There are currently 504 solicitors' offices and 90 Not for Profit agencies with contracts to provide immigration and asylum advice and representation in England and Wales.
	Preliminary analysis by the Legal Services Commission suggests that the number of solicitor suppliers for the next contract bid round from April 2004 will be maintained across England and Wales in all categories, including family and immigration and asylum.

Magistrates

Graham Allen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps he is taking to increase the number of magistrates from the Nottingham, North constituency.

Christopher Leslie: Recruitment of magistrates is co-ordinated locally by the Lord Chancellors' Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace. My local Advisory Committee has not reported to me any particular problems recruiting magistrates in the Nottingham area. The Advisory Committee has, however, used a number of new initiatives to attract candidates from different backgrounds including news sheets in local magazines and information on their website. BBC Nottingham also broadcast a television item on the magistracy. During next year's recruitment round we will be adding to those initiatives with a local bus advertising campaign backed up by supporting material in local media sources.

Public Records

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made in improving access to public records for amateur historians.

Christopher Leslie: In recent years The National Archives (TNA) has made considerable progress in improving online and onsite access for amateur historians. The online catalogue (PROCAT), with references to over nine million records, is available over the internet. Users can identify the original documents relevant to their research and place an order for them in advance of a visit to TNA at Kew. In addition, digital images of the entire series of wills from 1384 to 1858, which are of considerable interest to family historians, can be downloaded from the TNA website. TNA also provides digital copies of other records on demand over the internet. Many of TNA's online services are free of charge, including the award winning Learning Curve gallery, which provides online content for school teachers and pupils working on Key Stages 2 to 4 of the History National Curriculum, and the Pathways to the Past section of the website, which includes a wide variety of online material aimed at lifelong learners. The Moving Here project, led by TNA, comprises online exhibitions focusing on the historical experience of immigration to the UK in the last 150 years, and has opened archives up to entirely new audiences.
	Since 1997, the public reading rooms have been open six days a week, with late opening until 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. New users are given an induction tour on their first visit to Kew and can ask trained staff on duty in the reading rooms for further expert advice. All users are encouraged to make suggestions for further service improvements. The Public Record Office (PRO) first gained the Charter Mark Award in 1998 and achieved re-accreditation in 2001. Surveys of users onsite regularly achieve satisfaction levels of 90 per cent. and above.
	The completion of the merger between the PRO and the Historical Manuscripts Commission in December 2003, resulting in a shared physical location and website, will provide increased access to records, benefiting historians still further.

Remembrance Day (International Brigades)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that veterans of the International Brigades are invited to future Remembrance Day parades; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: My Department is responsible for co-ordinating the organisation of the ceremony at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. The parade, or march past the Cenotaph, which follows the official ceremony is organised by the Royal British Legion, to whom applications to participate should be made. The march past includes ex-Servicemen and women who have served under the direct command of British or Commonwealth Forces, the widows and widowers of ex-Servicemen and women, members of Transport for London—commemorating bus drivers who drove ambulances and troop transport in France in the First World War—and, since 1998, the Bevin Boys. From the year 2000, the march past was extended to include 2,000 marchers from civilian associations connected with past conflicts.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-Social Behaviour

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Anti-Social Behaviour Orders have been (a) applied for and (b) granted in each council area within Merseyside since their introduction.

Hazel Blears: The number of notifications received by the Home Office of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) applied for, and issued, in Merseyside from 1 April 1999 (introduction) up to 30 June 2003 (latest available) is given in the table.
	
		The number of ASBOs applied for, and issued, within Merseyside, as notified to the Home Office, 1 April 1999 to 30 June 2003
		
			 Area Total applied for Total issued 
		
		
			 Merseyside 57 52 
			 Of which:   
			 From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 by pfa(24) 12 8 
			 From 1 June 2000 to 30 June 2003 by:   
			 Local authority area 45 44 
			 Knowsley MBC 2 2 
			 Liverpool CC 28 27 
			 Sefton MBC 5 5 
			 St. Helens MBC 4 4 
			 Wirral MBC 6 6 
		
	
	(24) Between 1 April 1999–31 May 2000 data available by police force area (pfa) only
	Note:
	No notifications have been reported of ASBOs issued on conviction (application not required) within Merseyside from 2 December 2002 to 30 June 2003

Anti-Social Behaviour

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Anti-Social Behaviour Orders have been issued in London since 1 April 1999, broken down by London borough.

Hazel Blears: The number of notifications received by the Home Office of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) issued in London from 1 April 1999 up to 30 June 2003 (latest available) is given in the table.
	
		Number of ASBOs issued in London, as notified to the Home Office, from 1 April 1999 to 30 June 2003
		
			 Area Total issued 
		
		
			 Greater London 84 
			 Of which:  
			 From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 by pfa(25) 9 
			 From 1 June 2000 to 30 June 2003 by local authority area 75 
			 Barnet 2 
			 Bexley 11 
			 Bromley 1 
			 Camden 27 
			 Croydon 2 
			 Greenwich 3 
			 Hackney 2 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2 
			 Hounslow 1 
			 Islington 1 
			 Kingston-on-Thames 2 
			 Lambeth 1 
			 Lewisham 2 
			 Merton 1 
			 Newham 2 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2 
			 Southwark 1 
			 Sutton 4 
			 Tower Hamlets 2 
			 Westminster 6 
		
	
	(25) Between 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 data available by police force area (pfa) only

Basic Command Unit Strength

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Home Office sets as a minimum acceptable number of detectives, on a monthly basis, for an individual police Basic Command Unit.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 1 December 2003
	The Secretary of State sets no targets for the number of detectives. The number of detectives for any given Basic Command Unit or specialist unit is ultimately a matter for chief officers of police and will depend on factors such as local crime patterns and the strategy to address them.

BB Guns

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ban the sale of BB guns.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 1 December 2003
	We have no such plans. However, under the provisions of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2004, which we intend to bring into effect early next year, it will be an offence to have an imitation firearms in a public place without reasonable excuse. We shall be looking closely at the whole question of controlling imitation firearms as part of a comprehensive review of the firearms legislation, starting with the publication of a consultation paper in January.

Knives

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions his Department has had with retailers on the guidelines they operate on the sale of knives.

Caroline Flint: None. Both the Offensive Weapons Act 1996 and the Knives Act 1997 deal with the sale of knives. Section 6 of the Offensive Weapons Act 1996 makes it an offence to sell knives to persons under 16 and section 1 of the Knives Act 1997 makes it an offence to market a knife in a way which indicates, or suggests, that it is suitable for combat or is otherwise likely to stimulate or encourage violent behaviour involving the use of a knife as a weapon.

Police (Wales)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) special constables there were in Wales in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is set out in the table. At the end of August the four Welsh forces had record strength totalling 7,354, which is 762 (plus 12 per cent. more than it was in March 1997.
	At the end of March 2003 police (support) staff strength in Wales was 3,178. This is 723 more than in March 1997 when there was 2,455 police staff. In addition Gwent had 30 Community Support Officers (CSOs) approved under Round 1 in 2002–03 and on patrol at 31 August 2003. All of the Welsh forces are recruiting CSOs under the Round 2 allocations in 2003–04 and the four Welsh forces should have a total of 113 CSOs by 31 March 2004.
	We are working to ensure that forces make best use of Specials' skills, time and links to the community to increase the effective delivery of local policing and at how the use and recruitment of Specials might be widened.
	
		Total police and special constable strength for Welsh forces for 1992 to 2003
		
			 Year(26) Police officers(27) Special constables(28) 
		
		
			 1997 6,592 1,142 
			 1998 6,617 1,097 
			 1999 6,646 1,088 
			 2000 6,632 835 
			 2001 6,837 789 
			 2002 7,194 701 
			 2003 7,268 588 
			 2003(29) 7,354 (30)— 
		
	
	(26) As at 31 March.
	(27) Police officer strength is for full-time equivalents (fte).
	(28) Special Constable strength is an actual headcount (fte figures are not collected).
	(29) 31 August.
	(30) Not available.

Shop Security

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the Treasury on measures to aid retailers' investment in specified security equipment for stores under 3,000 square feet.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 3 December 2003
	My officials have consulted Treasury colleagues on the possible use of tax incentives to encourage the installation of physical security measures by businesses. However, we are not convinced that a tax incentive scheme is the best way to help small retailers facing crime problems. In particular, it could be perceived as unfair in that it would offer no assistance to businesses (arguably those in most need of help) that do not make enough profit to pay corporation tax. We also understand that the administration and compliance costs of such a system (to both businesses and the Government) would be high.
	However, the Home Office has received £15 million funding from the Treasury's Capital Modernisation Fund for the Small Retailers in Deprived Areas initiative. By the end of this year, this scheme will have provided security measures and environmental improvements to over 12,500 small retailers and businesses in some of our most deprived areas. Part of the evaluation of this scheme will assess the effect this funding will have had in promoting the benefits of crime reduction and encouraging the recipients and others to take forward further crime reduction activity.

Speeding

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what revenue from fines as a result of prosecutions arising from speed camera evidence was generated in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002.

Hazel Blears: Information on the revenue raised from speeding fines is not available.
	However, the table shows the total number of prosecutions and the average fine for speed offences detected by camera within England and Wales for 2000 and 2001. As the majority of such offences are dealt with by the issue of a fixed penalty, the table also shows the total amount of fixed penalties ordered to be paid.
	Not all fines and fixed penalties will have been paid.
	Information for 2002 will be available early in 2004.
	
		Court Proceedings and fixed penalty data for Speed Offences detected by cameras(31) in England and Wales 2000 and 2001
		
			  2000 2001 
		
		
			 Court proceedings   
			 Number of prosecutions 109,200 137,100 
			 Average fine (£)(32) 107 111 
			
			 Fixed penalties   
			 Number of tickets(33) 599,200 877,500 
			 Estimated revenue (£000)(34) 25,965 52,650 
		
	
	(31) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Motor Vehicle (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(32) Based on forces providing reliable figures
	(33) Paid i.e. no further action.
	(34) Estimate based on £40 fixed penalty charge January to October 2000. From November 2000 the penalty was raised to £60.

TRANSPORT

Air Transport

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether external agencies have been contracted to analyse the responses to the consultation into the Future Development of Air Transport in the UK; and if he will provide details of his Department's processes for analysing the responses.

Tony McNulty: The vast majority of responses have been analysed by officials. Analysis of more detailed and technical responses has been carried out by a team of consultants with expertise across a range of subject areas. Responses to the NOP consultation questionnaires have been analysed by NOP. Departmental officials have been responsible for supervising all parts of the analysis process and for the preparation of advice to Ministers on its conclusions.
	The results of the analysis will be published alongside the air transport White Paper before Christmas.

Alternative Fuels

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assistance his Department has afforded to non-public sector corporations to develop vehicles powered by other means than petrol.

David Jamieson: My Department's PowerShift programme provides grants to motorists and companies to encourage the purchase of LPG, natural gas, electric and other clean low-carbon vehicles. The CleanUp programme provides grants for the conversion of existing vehicles, and the New Vehicle Technology Fund programme provides grants for the development and demonstration of innovative low carbon vehicle technologies. The Governments' overall strategy for leading the global shift to clean, low carbon fuels and vehicles is set out in "Powering Future Vehicles—The Government Strategy", published in July 2002, and the First Annual Report on implementation of the Strategy was published in October. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Library.

Car Parks

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what legislation private operators of (a) local authority car parks and (b) privately owned car parks may pursue (i) civil action and (ii) criminal action for unpaid fines levied on late and non-payers of car park charges; and when guidance on these matters was last issued by the Department.

David Jamieson: On entering a local authority owned car park or a private car park a user is effectively agreeing to abide by the terms and conditions of its use, which should be displayed clearly. Paragraphs 14–16 of Local Authority Circular 1/90 dated 14 May 1990 covered information at car parks and drew attention to the need for local authorities to provide adequate information to users of their car parks, particularly about such matters as charges.
	Section 32 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 empowers local authorities to provide off street car parks and section 35 enables them to impose conditions on their use, including charges. Failure to comply with such conditions is an offence under section 35 A of the Act.
	A local authority may pursue non-payment of any charges incurred in connection with use of one of their car parks through a magistrates court. Alternatively, if they have obtained decriminalised parking enforcement powers, a penalty charge for non-compliance with the conditions of use may be issued by the authority under section 76 of the Road Traffic Act 1991. Under Schedule 6 to that Act an authority may take steps to enforce payment of a penalty charge through the Traffic Enforcement Centre at Northampton County Court.
	Privately owned car parks are private property and charges and conditions for their use are a contractual matter between the owner and users. This is not a matter that is the subject of public legislation and it would be for the owner to pursue any unpaid charges as a civil rather than criminal matter.

Lifeboats

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to improve lifeboat safety; and what plans he has to introduce requirements for (a) minimum launching system standards and (b) common operating procedures.

David Jamieson: The UK has adopted and fully supports international standards for life saving appliances, as required by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). Standards have been developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and are contained in the publications "International Life Saving Appliance Code (Res. MSC.48(66))" and "Testing and Evaluation of Life Saving Appliances (Res. MSC.81(70)", which incorporate the requirements for launching systems and operating procedures.
	The Maritime and Coastguard Agency promulgates detailed advice to the industry through the publications "Survey of Life-Saving Appliances Volume I and 2" and a variety of Marine Notices.
	International standards continue to be reviewed by the IMO's Design and Equipment sub-committee (DE), which is made up of delegations from participating marine administrations. The last meeting of DE in March 2003 established a working group to undertake a comprehensive review of the standards and guidelines which currently apply to the launching and operation of lifeboats.

Light Dues

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the annual budget of (a) the Trinity House Lighthouse Authority, (b) the Commissioners of the Irish Lights and (c) the Northern Lighthouse Board was in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much was contributed by the central fund to the Northern Lighthouse Board in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: The expenditure requirements of the three General Lighthouse Authorities are met from the General Lighthouse Fund. The annual expenditure from 1998–99 to 2002–03 is set out in the following table.
	
		£000
		
			  Trinity House Lighthouse Northern Lighthouse Board Commissionersof Irish Lights 
		
		
			 1998–99 29,362 22,057 13,401 
			 1999–2000 28,587 28,185 13,701 
			 2000–01 30,364 22,930 15,077 
			 2001–02 30,203 24,210 16,168 
			 2002–03 31,998 22,385 16,034

Light Dues

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he will use to review the level of light dues in spring 2004.

David Jamieson: The Secretary of State will determine the light dues to be levied in 2004/05 taking account of the General Lighthouse Authority Corporate Plans and investment in new depots and ships and of the level at which the General Lighthouse Fund Reserve should be maintained to underpin the operation and pension arrangements.

London Underground

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train cancellations there were on the London Underground in each year between 1990 and 2003, broken down by line.

Tony McNulty: London Underground (LU) transferred from Central Government to Transport for London on 15 July. The information for the years before 1996 could be provided only at disproportionate time and cost. London Underground has provided the following:
	
		Number of peak train cancellations
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Bakerloo 718 405 654 739 1,844 931 934 
			 Central 1,401 1,052 1,605 1,184 1,280 1,233 7,877 
			 Waterloo and City 91 9 47 14 55 34 238 
			 Circle 600 525 541 537 1,096 1,224 973 
			 Hammersmith and City 542 267 303 343 517 — 636 
			 District 1,378 303 628 463 1,647 2,116 1,461 
			 Jubilee 423 173 169 586 1,492 747 579 
			 East London 0 0 186 97 169 101 106 
			 Metropolitan 889 333 427 500 978 1,323 1,296 
			 Northern 1,715 1,283 3,537 1,206 962 567 1,142 
			 Piccadilly 1,576 1,329 2,288 2,100 3,522 2,953 2,659 
			 Victoria 514 422 404 182 526 222 539 
			 Total number of cancellations 9,847 6,101 10,789 7,951 14,088 11,451 18,440

London Underground

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average percentage of scheduled train kilometres operated on the London Underground was in each year between 1990 and 2003, broken down by line.

Tony McNulty: London Underground (LU) transferred from Central Government to Transport for London on 15 July. The information for the years before 1996 could be provided only at disproportionate time and cost. London Underground has provided the following:
	
		Percentage of scheduled kilometres operated -- Percentage
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Bakerloo 91.4 93.6 92.5 90.5 82.6 89.2 92.1 
			 Central 95.3 95.1 95.2 96.5 96.6 97.3 79.3 
			 Waterloo and City 94.5 98.2 96.9 98.4 96.8 98.1 88.1 
			 Circle and Hammersmith 90.9 93.0 91.4 89.7 81.8 86.3 86.0 
			 District 96.0 98.3 97.4 97.0 92.9 91.6 94.2 
			 Jubilee 96.4 98.0 97.5 92.7 89.2 93.9 95.7 
			 East London 97.3 97.3 92.7 95.7 94.1 95.7 96.1 
			 Metropolitan 95.9 98.0 97.5 96.7 95.0 93.3 92.7 
			 Northern 94.4 95.5 90.2 94.9 96.5 98.2 96.0 
			 Piccadilly 93.5 92.9 89.5 90.9 86.6 87.2 91.3 
			 Victoria 95.0 95.1 96.1 97.4 95.8 95.7 92.9 
			 Average all lines 94.5 95.5 93.6 94.3 91.6 92.9 91.1

Ports

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the change in (a) total trade, (b) tanker trade, (c) container trade and (d) dry bulk trade in UK ports in each of the (i) next and (ii) last five years.

David Jamieson: The available information is provided in the table.
	
		UK port traffic 1998—2002
		
			  (a) Total trade(35) (b) Tanker trade (c) Container trade Dry bulk trade 
			  Million tonnes Annual % change Million tonnes Annual % change Million tonnes Annual % change Million tonnes Annual % change 
		
		
			 1998 569 - 286 - 47 - 119 - 
			 1999 566 -1 288 - 50 6 113 -5 
			 2000 573 1 294 2 52 4 114 1 
			 2001 566 -1 277 -6 52 - 124 9 
			 2002 558 -1 273 -1 51 -1 116 -7 
		
	
	(35) Includes Ro-Ro traffic and other general cargo

Ports

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of spending on infrastructure in UK ports in each of the next five years.

David Jamieson: The information requested is not available.

Road Noise

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what systems are in place to ensure that road renewal schemes are prioritised for funding according to the number of people who suffer greater than 65 decibels levels of noise.

David Jamieson: Local roads are a matter for the relevant local authority. As far as the strategic road network in England is concerned low noise surfaces will generally be used as a matter of course when maintenance is due. And the Secretary of State announced to the House on 1 April 2003 that we expect quieter surfacing to have been installed on over 60 per cent. of the trunk road network, including all concrete stretches, within the period of the 10 year plan. Following consultation, we announced that four criteria would be used to prioritise the resurfacing of concrete roads. They are:
	Wherever possible, the application of quieter surfaces will fit in with normal maintenance needs;
	Priority will be given to those sites where treatment would benefit the greatest number of people;
	The works will be carried out in such a way as to minimise disruption to the general public and other users of the network; and
	Priority will be given to roads opened since June 1988 where actual noise levels have turned out to be significantly higher than predicted at the time of the public inquiry.

Road Safety

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has (a) conducted and (b) commissioned to assess the effect on road safety of removing white lining on rural roads; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Department's view is that road markings make an important contribution to road safety on inter-urban rural roads by clearly defining the path to be followed, by separating conflicting movements and by delineating the road edge on unlit roads at night.
	The Department has collaborated in a joint European project on road markings and their effect on driver behaviour, in which 15 countries pooled their research resources. This established, among other findings, that drivers on inter-urban rural roads find it difficult to steer accurately at night if they cannot see the road markings sufficiently far ahead.
	With regard to rural villages, the Department commissioned TRL to monitor a traffic management scheme in Stiffkey, Norfolk which included the removal of centre lines. We have also commissioned the "Drivers and Traffic Calming" project to examine the effect of psychological (non-physical) traffic calming measures in both urban and village locations, some of which involve the removal of white lines.

Road Safety

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research the Government has undertaken into the (a) cost and (b) safety-effectiveness of different types of crash barriers to prevent cross-over accidents.

David Jamieson: Extensive research was undertaken during the 1980s, which contributed to the decision to introduce central reserve barrier onto the trunk road network in 1986. The majority of product placed on the network at that time was tensioned steel barrier. More recently, different types of barrier have been placed on the network, including wire-rope and concrete barrier. Data obtained from the in-service performance of these products over time is now being used to support research into the cost and safety-effectiveness of different types of central reserve barrier.
	The research is considering the performance characteristics of different barrier types, as well as the whole life construction, maintenance, repair and replacement costs, including traffic delay costs and safety risks to operatives carrying out the work. This research is expected to be completed in early 2004 and will help in the understanding of how to prevent cross-over accidents.

Shipping

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to protect the shipping industry from terrorist attack.

David Jamieson: Maritime issues continue to be high on the Government's security agenda. Mandatory maritime security requirements were first introduced under the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990, and the industry has been subject to security regulation since then. Inspectors carry out monitoring and compliance inspections, both in the UK and overseas, to ensure that security measures are properly implemented.
	Following the events of 11 September 2001 all transport security programmes were reviewed and enhanced and they are kept under continuous review in light of the prevailing threat. While we can never be complacent, we believe that the core policies, baseline measures and the current levels of security required are appropriate to the current situation. For obvious reasons, it is not our practice to detail the required security measures.
	The national regime will be augmented next year with the implementation of the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) global maritime security regime. The security assessments and security plans that are required by the IMO's International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) are designed to identify and address existing vulnerabilities.
	The UK's existing maritime security regime, the ISPS Code requirements and a forthcoming EU Regulation are being drawn together to form the basis of a new National Maritime Security Programme. This programme will include both mandatory security measures and industry best practice guidelines and will provide a consistent, holistic approach to further enhance the security of the maritime sector.

Shipping

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his Answer of 1 December 2003, Official Report, column 7W, on shipping, which flags are flown by the ships that use the tonnage tax scheme but do not fly the red ensign; and what requirements these ships are required to meet to qualify for this tax scheme.

David Jamieson: The following flags, other than Red Ensign, have ships in tonnage tax:
	Barbados, Bahamas, Germany, Antigus & Barbuda, Liberia, Panama, Hong Kong, Norway, Ireland, Netherlands Antilles, Singapore, Japan, Denmark, St. Vincent, Marshall Islands, Netherlands and Luxembourg.
	To qualify for the tonnage tax scheme ships must be seagoing, at least 100 gross tons, and used for:
	Carriage of passengers, or
	Carriage of cargo, or
	Towage, salvage or other marine assistance, or
	Transport in connection with other service of a kind necessarily provided at sea.
	They must also be operated by companies within corporation tax that are "strategically and commercially" managed in the UK.

Single-hulled Tankers

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to provide compensation to ship owners phasing out single-hulled tankers.

David Jamieson: None.

Speeding

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many drivers were disqualified from driving as a consequence of accumulation of points on their driving licence for speeding in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	Information collected centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings database does not separately identify the individual motoring offence by which a driver is disqualified as a result of "totting up" of points on their driving licence under s.35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Broadcasting (Children)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what measures her Department has put in place to safeguard children's radio; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions her Department has held with (a) the BBC, (b) commercial broadcasters and (c) other bodies on the establishment of a designated children's digital radio channel.

Estelle Morris: The licensing of commercial radio services is a matter for the Radio Authority and, from 29 December, Ofcom. This Department has therefore had no discussions about establishing a designated children's radio channel. The authority as already licensed a number of digital radio services for children and one of the community radio pilot services is a children's service. In the case of the BBC, Charter Review will provide the occasion for an examination of all aspects of the Corporation's activities, including its role in relation to children and young people.

Broadcasting (Children)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has held with Ofcom on the (a) rights and (b) needs of children in broadcasting.

Estelle Morris: Ofcom is due to assume the majority of its regulatory functions only on 29 December. To date, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to the Chairman of Ofcom asking him to consider proposals for strengthening the existing code on advertising food to children and to inform her of Ofcom's plans to promote greater media literacy among children.

Digital Television

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether BBC Freeview digital television transmitted from English transmission sites to Wales will automatically carry Welsh regional channels.

Estelle Morris: Digital Terrestrial signals from English sites do not carry Welsh regional channels at present. The BBC broadcasts Welsh regional variations to all parts of the UK on digital satellite.

Digital Television

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many digital television transmitters are operating in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland; and how many people have access to digital television (i) in the UK and (ii) in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.

Estelle Morris: There are 80 Digital transmitters serving the UK as a whole. In Leicestershire, there is one digital transmitter in Waltham, serving much of the central, north and east of the county. Some parts of the west of the county are also served by signals from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter.
	In the UK, 98 per cent. of households have access to digital television by one platform or another and this figure is representative of the coverage in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland. The Independent Television Commission are not able to provide area-by-area figures of total digital coverage.

Digital Television

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans has she to increase free access to digital television in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.

Estelle Morris: The Government are committed to ensuring that everyone who can currently receive analogue television signals will be able to receive them digitally after switchover. A Digital Television Action plan has been produced jointly with broadcasters and other stakeholders. This sets out a series of specific actions for Government and the stakeholders collectively to work towards to achieve the switchover criteria.
	According to the Independent Television Commission (ITC), around 73.1 per cent. of households are currently able to receive all of the free-to-view channels available on the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) network. Broadcasters are committed to increasing DTT coverage, but cannot do so until digital switchover.

Digital Television

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of pensioners over 75 who will be charged for the new viewing card.

Estelle Morris: This information is not available as these figures are not currently collected.

Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pages of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation her Department put through Parliament in 2002–03.

Richard Caborn: The information is as follows:
	(a) My Department sponsored two Bills (one jointly with the Department of Trade and Industry) during the 2002–03 session, which made a total of 765 pages once enacted. (This answer excludes Private Members' Bills.)
	(b) In the case of secondary legislation, my Department was responsible, during the 2002–03 session, for the making of 13 General Statutory Instruments, which would have been considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. These instruments made a total of 33 pages.

Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by her Department in 2002–03 was to implement EU requirements.

Richard Caborn: The information is as follows:
	(a) As regards primary legislation sponsored by my Department during the 2002–03 session, none of the provisions for which my Department was responsible implemented EU requirements. This answer excludes the provisions in the Communications Act which were the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry. It also excludes provisions in that Act which were the responsibility of my Department, but which re-enacted previous provisions implementing EC requirements.
	(b) As regards secondary legislation for which my Department was responsible during the 2002–03 session, one statutory instrument of four pages implemented EC requirements. This equated roughly to 12 per cent. of the secondary legislation which my Department was responsible for making during the period (calculated by reference to the total number of pages of such secondary legislation).

Meridian TV

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Regulator on Meridian TV's intention of moving its Maidstone operations to Southampton.

Estelle Morris: This is an issue for the Independent Television Commission.

Nosterfield (Prehistoric Remains)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what representations she has received on the complex of prehistoric remains near Nosterfield in North Yorkshire, which include three large henges; and whether the henges are scheduled ancient monuments;
	(2)  what action she takes to preserve important megalithic monuments;
	(3)  if she will instruct English Heritage to take urgent steps to provide adequate legal protection for the whole of the setting of the Thornborough henge site to ensure that the planning authority (a) recognises and (b) will be obliged to take into account the national importance of the site.

Richard Caborn: A number of representations have been received both at DCMS and at English Heritage from a diverse range of organisations.
	Most important megalithic monuments are scheduled as ancient monuments and as such are protected from uncontrolled disturbance by the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. Additional protection is provided by the Government's Planning Policy Guidance on Archaeology and Planning (PPG 16).
	The site is Scheduled as an Ancient Monument under the title of "Earth circles, cursus, pit alignments and burial sites near Nosterfield and Thornborough, including Centre Hill round barrow, Hambleton, North Yorkshire—County Monument No. 36".
	English Heritage is concerned about the wider landscape setting of the henge monuments and is currently funding a project by Newcastle University to undertake extensive archaeological research in this area. My Officials are supporting English Heritage's firm opposition to any further gravel extraction in the vicinity of the scheduled site until the research is completed, and the archaeology is better understood.

Rugby League

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support the Government are offering to Rugby League in (a) St. Helens and (b) Merseyside.

Richard Caborn: Since 1995, Rugby League in St. Helens has received one Community Capital award for changing rooms at Portico and Grange Park Junior Amateur RLFC of £8,720, one Safer Sports Ground award to St. Helens RLFC for £30,876 and over £39,200 in Awards for All grants for 10 projects.
	In addition to this, Rugby League in Merseyside has received two Awards for All grants totalling £9,800.

Sports Expenditure

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how much per head of population has been spent by the Government on promoting and facilitating sport and physical activity in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003;
	(2)  how much per head of population has been spent by her Department on promoting and facilitating sport and physical activity in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003.

Richard Caborn: The following table sets out the total government funding directly attributable for sport per capita in England.
	
		
			  Exchequer funding(£ million) Population totals (million) Exchequer funding per capita (£) 
		
		
			 2000–01 39.8 49.1 0.81 
			 2001–02 47.7 49.3 0.97 
			 2002–03 103.5 49.5 2.09 
		
	
	The Department for Culture Media and Sport's funding for sport and physical activity in 2000–01 was £39.8 million, in 2001–02 was £47.7 million and in 2002–03 was £103.5 million. These figures do not reflect the grant in aid funding which the Department provides to UK Sport.
	The Department for Education and Skills investment in specialist sports colleges for 2000–01 was £9.5 million, in 2001–02 was £14.6 million and on 2002–03 was £23.4 million. However this funding is for the provision of sport and also contributes to raising standards across the curriculum.
	The information for the Department of Health is not available. The amount spent by Primary Care Trusts on the promotion of physical activity from the devolved Department of Health budgets is not known centrally.
	Sport also receives significant funding from Central Government mainly through local government block grant, as noted in "Game Plan: a strategy for delivering the Government's sport and physical activity objectives", a joint Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Strategy Unit Report published in December 2002, page 33. This spending is not centrally recorded on a consistent basis, but "Game Plan" suggested that in 1999–2000 £1,015 million was spent on sport and physical activity by local government as part of their block grant.

Television Reception

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the proportion of the population of East Sussex who are able to receive (a) Channel 4 and (b) Channel 5 through terrestrial television.

Estelle Morris: Terrestrial coverage for Channel 4 and Five has not been calculated on the basis of county boundaries. However, coverage figures for the whole of the UK are 99.4 per cent. for Channel 4 and 80 per cent. for Five. In Sussex, neither of the main transmitters at Dover and Heathfield are able to transmit Five and coverage is therefore very limited.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Government Grant (Havering)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central Government money the London Borough of Havering received per citizen in 2002–03.

Phil Hope: The London Borough of Havering received £722.46 per head in central Government grant in 2002–03.
	This includes the 2002–03 Revenue Support Grant (RSG) and Redistributed Business Rates (NNDR) distributed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and information on special and specific grants within AEF supplied by the London Borough of Havering to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on their Revenue Summary form (RS 2002/03).
	The mid-2000 population estimates for Havering have then been used to work out the amount of grant per head. These population estimates were those used in the calculation of the 2002/03 RSG and NNDR.

Home Ownership Task Force

Martin Linton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Home Ownership Task Force will report on the range of programmes helping people into home ownership.

Keith Hill: The Home Ownership Task Force's report, "A Home of My Own", was published on 13 November 2003. Copies of the report and executive summary are available on the Housing Corporation's website at: www.housingcorp.gov.uk
	The Task Force looked at the whole range of programmes aimed at helping social tenants and others into home ownership and has put forward 45 recommendations to assist in the delivery of affordable housing to those on modest incomes. These include advising on new frameworks for a low cost home ownership programme, how to provide better information and advice and sustainable home ownership.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is taking forward four of the recommendations relating to the Right to Buy in the Housing Bill. We will be considering the other recommendations in more detail and responding in the New Year.

Learning and Skills Councils

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions his Department has held with the Department for Education and Skills on the possible transfer of responsibilities and funding from learning and skills councils to regional development agencies.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	Sponsorship of the Regional Development Agencies transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry in June 2001. The Department has had no discussions with the Department for Education and Skills on the possible transfer of responsibilities and funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). It is not the Government's intention to transfer responsibilities and funding from one body to another, as the approach set out in the Government's Skills Strategy published in July this year makes clear. Instead we have made it clear that we expect RDAs and local LSCs to work together.
	RDAs and local LSCs have been working together in a number of areas on regional skills pilots, which are looking at pooling and co-ordinating funding.
	Further, as part of the Skills Strategy, the Government has asked RDAs and their partners to work up proposals for Regional Skills Partnerships which will enable RDAs, local LSCs, and other stakeholders with an interest in skills, to work more effectively together to deliver employment, skills and business support, and to improve flexibility and responsiveness to the skills needs of employers and individuals.

New Millennium Experience Company

Alan Keen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what he estimates the surplus will be of the unutilised grant, which is expected to result from the solvent liquidation of the New Millennium Experience Company.

Keith Hill: This is a matter for the Millennium Commission as grant-funder. However, I understand that it is currently estimated that the surplus of unutilised grant, resulting from the solvent liquidation of the New Millennium Experience Company, is expected to be £25 million.

Quasi-Judicial Decisions

Peter Viggers: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what factors are taken into account when he takes a decision in a quasi-judicial capacity; and how these differ from the factors he takes into account in decisions taken normally.

Keith Hill: Quasi-judicial powers are administrative powers which must be exercised in accordance with the rules of natural justice. In taking quasi-judicial decisions, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister must act and be seen to act fairly and even-handedly, by bringing an unbiased and properly directed mind to his consideration of the matter. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister must take into account all relevant matters and not take into account irrelevant ones. These factors do not necessarily differ from the factors to be taken into account in other decisions but there may be a different degree of scrutiny by the courts.

Renewable Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on Merton Borough Council's policy PE14 on renewable energy, formally adopted on 31 October; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: As the hon. Member will know, Merton's UDP policy PE14 (now renumbered PE13 in the Plan as adopted) encourages the incorporation of various environmentally friendly measures into buildings, and indicates that:
	"all new non-residential development above a threshold of 1,000 square metres will be expected to incorporate renewable energy production equipment to provide at least 10 per cent. of predicted energy requirements".
	This policy was introduced into the Plan in post-inquiry modifications, an objection was made. Representations were made to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by Councillor Andrew Judge, Council Leader of the London Borough of Merton, and from Rebecca Willis, of the Green Alliance, with members of the Energy Entrepreneurs Network as co-signatories. In both cases the representations pointed out that a viability test had been introduced by the Council to address the Government's concerns, and asked that the Government should not intervene to direct the removal of the policy from the Plan.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Colombia

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what military aid is being provided to Colombia; and of what (a) type and (b) value.

Adam Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 October 2003, Official Report, column 322W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock).

Ethiopia

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to implement sanctions against Ethiopia in the event that it does not accept the Algiers agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We have underlined to the Ethiopian authorities that the Boundary Commission's decision on the border, provided for in the Algiers Agreement, is final and binding. We are working with the rest of the international community to encourage Ethiopia and Eritrea to begin a political dialogue on all the issues separating the two countries, including the implementation of the Boundary Commission's decision. The Government have no current plans to implement sanctions against Ethiopia.

Ethiopia

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent meetings he has had to discuss ways of preventing the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea escalating.

Chris Mullin: When I met the Ethiopian ambassador on 16 October, I emphasised to him that the Boundary Commission's decision is final and binding and that dialogue is essential for the normalisation of relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia. I conveyed this same message to the Eritrean ambassador at a meeting on 25 November and to the Eritrean Foreign Minister at a meeting on 1 December.

Ethiopia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions have been undertaken by his Department to ensure that the Commission's resolutions on the future border between Ethiopia and Eritrea are adhered to; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We have emphasised to both parties that the Boundary Commission's decisions are final and binding. The Government are working with other members of the international community to encourage Ethiopia and Eritrea to begin a political dialogue on all the issues separating the two countries.

EU Constitutional Treaty

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of the proposed EU Constitutional Treaty have been purchased by (a) Government bodies and (b) others.

Denis MacShane: In August 2003 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Command Paper 5897 The 'Draft Constitutional Treaty on the European Union', which included a full copy of the text, was published by the Stationery Office. 53 copies of the paper were subsequently purchased by the FCO; some of which were forwarded to other Government Departments. In total 729 copies have been sold by the Stationery Office.
	Copies of the draft Treaty are also available free of charge from the European Commission.

European Constitution

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the additional policy areas to be subject to majority voting in the latest draft of the European Constitution.

Denis MacShane: The latest redraft of the Constitution, in CIG 50/03, does not include any fundamental changes to the Convention text, but does incorporate some legal clarifications on the basis of the work of Council lawyers.
	The Presidency have issued some proposals for amendment in CIG 52/1/03. These are still under discussion. They include a new proposal for the use of qualified majority voting when adopting a European decision on a proposal put forward by the European Foreign Minister. The British Government have made it clear that they cannot accept this proposal.

European Union Accounts

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his response to the refusal of auditors to approve the accounts of the European Union.

Denis MacShane: It is disappointing that the Court of Auditors (EGA) has again been unable to give a positive Statement of Assurance, though we note that the ECA did find the accounts to be reliable overall, as it has every year. We will be working with the ECA to address the specific problems they identified. But it is important to note that revenue, commitments, administrative expenditure and pre-accession aid did receive a positive Statement of Assurance. In addition, it noted improvements in the management of the agriculture budget, especially in the area of payments and in the Integrated Administration and Control System. The Government believes that the entry into force of the new Financial Regulation on 1 January 2003 will produce further improvements in financial management and accountability. The ECA also commented favourably on the progress made to reform financial management in the Commission—and noted the ambitious timetable for this. We expect the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee to debate the report in the usual way in February 2004.

Food Supplements

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the EU meetings held in 2003 which (a) Ministers and (b) officials from the Department have attended where the maximum permitted level of nutrients in food supplements was discussed; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Food Supplements Directive 2002 lays out a framework for the setting of maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. Following this, the European Commission has to make a proposal listing EU maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements. It has not yet done so and we do not expect it to do so for another two-three years. Until such time it is unlikely that there will be any EU meetings dedicated to the discussion of these levels and there have been none in 2003.
	The UK has taken every opportunity to argue that maximum levels should be set on the basis of food safety. In 2003, Food Standards Agency officials attended two scientific meetings at which maximum permitted levels were discussed in the context
	of risk assessment.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs upon what evidence the claims that foreign fighters are operating in Iraq were made; how many he estimates are involved; what their countries of origin are; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have received reports that foreign fighters from a range of countries are operating in Iraq. The Government have urged Iraq's neighbours to tighten up security and border controls to deny terrorists access to Iraq. I am withholding details of the Government's estimate of the number of foreign terrorists in Iraq under Exemptions 1 and 2 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Iraq

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the average (a) level and (b) number of hours of supply of electricity to the Shi'a population of Iraq (i) before and (ii) after the conflict.

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on electricity supplies in Iraq is not collected on the basis of religious or ethnic groupings. The power system in southern and central Iraq particularly has suffered from a lack of maintenance over many years and since the conflict has suffered looting and sabotage. Nevertheless, good progress has been made with the restoration of power supplies so far. Power capacity in Iraq peaked in early October 2003 at 4,518MW, surpassing the pre-war level of 4,400MW. This peak level has been temporarily reduced to allow necessary long-term repairs and planned maintenance to take place.
	The majority of the Shi'a population are located in the South of the country and supply levels in Basrah are now generally equalling or exceeding the pre-conflict supply levels of approximately 20 hours per day. DFID is currently supporting an Emergency Infrastructure Project in the South, which is further strengthening the power supplies to key installations. This $30 million project forms part of a wider Essential Infrastructure Programme (totalling $127 million), which is being managed by the Coalition Provisional Authority.

Somalia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts with organisations representing people in Somalia are maintained by his Department; and what visits have been made by members of his Department to Somalia in the past year.

Chris Mullin: My officials meet regularly with members of the Somali Diaspora and with key Somali figures visiting the UK. Our ambassador in Addis Ababa and other UK officials visited Somaliland most recently on 10 to 14 November 2003.

Somalia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with (a) the Administration of Somaliland and (b) the Organisation of African Unity concerning future recognition by the UK.

Chris Mullin: I have met with Mrs. Edna Adan, foreign affairs spokesperson for the Somaliland authorities, and expressed the hope that a mutually acceptable solution on the future status of Somaliland can be agreed between Somaliland and the south.
	I have not held discussions with the African Union on this issue.

Uzbekistan

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when HM ambassador to Uzbekistan will return to Tashkent.

Bill Rammell: I do not know. The ambassador, Craig Murray, returned to the UK for medical treatment. It would be inappropriate to comment further on a private matter.

Western European Union

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of dissolving the Western European Union; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Council of the Western European Union at Marseille in November 2000 agreed on a number of measures "designed to address the consequences for the WEU of the changes under way", particularly the evolution of ESDP. This included putting into place residual functions and structures for the WEU. There have been no decisions to dissolve the WEU. The focus of EU Partners and NATO Allies has been primarily on strengthening European security arrangements through ESDP and the NATO/EU permanent agreements. WEU nations may want to look again at its structures and functions in the light of the outcome of the EU Inter-Governmental Conference.

Western Sahara

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the governments of (a) Morocco and (b) the United Nations concerning resolution of the problems faced by the Saharwi people.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 3 December 2003
	We regularly discuss the situation in Western Sahara with our contacts at all levels in the Moroccan Government and the United Nations.
	My noble Friend Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean discussed Western Sahara with the Moroccan Deputy Foreign Minister Fassi-Fihri when she visited Morocco on 15–17 September 2003.
	British officials in Morocco. Algeria and at the United Nations in New York have, in recent months, held discussions on this issue with the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Western Sahara, Mr. Alvaro de Soto.

HEALTH

Cancer Care

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the demand for proton therapy at the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology in the next 10 years.

Melanie Johnson: The responsibility for assessing future demand of specialised services such as proton therapy at the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology lies with primary care trusts. The commissioning and assessment demand arrangements around the country differ. Patients come from all over the country to receive proton therapy at the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, and in 2003–04, the number receiving treatment will be in the region of 80. This includes a very small number of patients who are treated privately.

Care Homes

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential care (a) homes and (b) places there were in the Portsmouth Unitary Authority area in each year since 2001.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of residential care homes in the Portsmouth Unitary Authority at 31 March 2001 was 140 and the number of places was 1,600.
	Figures for later years have been collected by the National Care Standards Commission, but comparable details broken down by authority are not available.

Care Homes

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing care (a) homes and (b) beds there were in the Portsmouth and south-east Hampshire health authority area in each year since 2001.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of nursing care homes in the Portsmouth and south-east Hampshire health authority at 31 March 2001 was 60 and the number of places was 1,690.
	Figures for later years have been collected by the National Care Standards Commission, but comparable details broken down by authority are not available.

Care Homes

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) residential care homes and (b) nursing home places were available in West Derbyshire in each year since 1997, broken down into places available at (i) local authority-run homes, (ii) independent private homes and (iii) homes run by independent charities and other not-for-profit organisations.

Stephen Ladyman: The table shows the number of care home places by type of accommodation available in the Derbyshire area as at 31 March for the years 1997 to 2001.
	Figures for later years have been collected by the National Care Standards Commission, but comparable details broken down by local authority are not available.
	Data are not available for West Derbyshire.
	
		Number of care home places in the Derbyshire area by type of accommodation at 31 March 1997 to 2001
		
			  Residential homes(36) Nursing homes(37) 
			 At 31 March Local Authority Private Voluntary Small Independent 
		
		
			 1997 1,760 3,410 750 330 4,550 
			 1998 1,490 3,570 750 210 4,500 
			 1999 1,380 4,110 810 340 4,590 
			 2000 1,470 4,010 720 220 4,310 
			 2001 1,470 3,980 650 210 4,260 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. In 1997 this covers Derbyshire local authority. From 1998 onwards Derbyshire local authority re-organised into Derby City and Derbyshire local authorities.
	2. Includes North Derbyshire and South Derbyshire health authorities.
	3. Independent registered care homes with less than four places.
	Source:
	KO36, RA and RH(N)

Community Pharmacies

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the implications for the workload of community pharmacies of delivering over-the-counter statins;
	(2)  what consultation he has had with pharmacists on the dispensing of over-the-counter statins;
	(3)  what checks will be carried out by pharmacists dispensing over-the-counter statins;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the number of lives likely to be saved each year through over-the-counter availability of statins.

Rosie Winterton: No assessment is routinely made by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the workload of community pharmacists when the legal status of a product is changed from a prescription only medicine to a pharmacy only medicine, nor when a product changes from a pharmacy only medicine to general sale list availability.
	The consultation document (ARM 18) on a proposal to allow simvastatin 10mg to be available over the counter through pharmacies rather than on a prescription has been distributed widely, including to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) and the National Pharmaceutical Association (NPA). All pharmacists have been made aware of the consultation exercise via the Pharmaceutical Journal, which directed pharmacists to the consultation document displayed on the MHRA's website. At the end of the consultation period, the responses received will be considered by the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) which will advise Ministers.
	The applicant company for the proposal to supply simvastatin 10mg over the counter is proposing to conduct a pre-launch pilot study in a number of pharmacies to test the feasibility of the pharmacy protocol. This will provide valuable information about the supply of the product, will highlight areas for improvement and will test the overall feasibility of pharmacy availability. The proposed protocol, including a questionnaire, will be introduced for first time purchasers of simvastatin 10mg to be completed at the start of the supply process. It is proposed that the questionnaire focuses initially on age and then where appropriate, other risk factors for Coronary heart Disease (CHD) i.e. age (if below 55), family history, smoking, ethnicity, obesity. Based on the responses to the questionnaire, the pharmacist will be able to identify individuals for whom simvastatin 10mg would be suitable. An education and training package is being developed to support the pharmacist in the sale and supply of simvastatin lOmg. Pharmacy bodies including the RPSGB, the NPA and the Centre for Postgraduate Pharmacy Education (CPPE) are being consulted on this material.
	The RPSGB's code of ethics and standards sets out the professional standards all pharmacists are expected to follow when dispensing medicines against a prescription or when selling pharmacy medicines. The code is published as part of the Society's Medicines, Ethics and Practice, A Guide for Pharmacists which is available on its website at www.rpsgb.org.uk.
	Pharmacists will be able to offer cholesterol testing to people who choose to take up this option. The CSM has advised that it is beneficial to reduce cholesterol levels regardless of the starting level of cholesterol. The safety profile of statins at a low dose is such that CSM advised that there is no need for routine liver function tests once treatment has started.
	The number of lives likely to be saved each year through over-the-counter availability of statins will depend on the level of take up of the product that would not otherwise be available on prescription. Individual risk reduction could be by as much as a third after three years of treatment.

Contaminated Blood

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department's ex-gratia payments to people with haemophilia infected with hepatitis C will extend to (a) those co-infected with HIV, (b) those who have cleared the virus through treatment and (c) the families of those who have died from hepatitis C.

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the money allocated to compensate victims of contaminated blood will be spent; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The details of the hepatitis C ex gratia payment scheme are being worked out. We expect to announce the scheme's eligibility criteria and payment structure shortly.

Dental Practice Board

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce the result of the Lyons Review, with particular reference to its conclusions on the future location of the Dental Practice Board.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is considering the options for relocation in the light of the Lyons Review. These will need to be taken in the light of the review of the Department's arms' length bodies which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, announced at the Health Select Committee on 30 October 2003 and which it is expected will reach its conclusions by the middle of next year.

Diabetes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what diagnostic methods are available on the NHS to allow diabetics to monitor their blood sugar levels;
	(2)  whether he intends that provision of blood glucose test strips will remain available on the NHS in the long term.

Rosie Winterton: There are two types of diagnostic methods available on the National Health Service that allow people with diabetes to self-monitor their blood glucose levels. These are blood glucose testing strips and urine testing strips.
	Blood glucose testing strips will remain available on the NHS for the foreseeable future and I am not aware of any plans to remove them from NHS prescriptions.

Diabetes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further steps he will take to ensure that (a) diabetics are able to make an informed choice on the types of insulin available and (b) that healthcare providers advise patients of the risks and benefits of different types of insulin.

Rosie Winterton: Patient education, information and empowerment is central to the values of the national service framework for diabetes standards published in 2001. Standard Three states:
	"that all people with diabetes will receive a service that encourages partnership in decision-making and supports them in managing their diabetes, and helps them adopt a healthy lifestyle".
	This would include, for those requiring it, information about insulin.
	Full guidance on prescribing and use of synthetic insulins, including possible side effects, is provided in the product information for prescribers and patients.

Drug Prescribing

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS prescriptions for (a) Aricept, (b) Concerta XL and (c) Risperidone have been made in 2003; and what additional funds have been made available for prescription of these drugs.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of prescription items and net ingredient cost (NIC) of all Aricept, Concerta and Risperidone drugs dispensed in the community in England in 2003 (January to September) is shown in the table.
	National health service bodies are expected to meet the costs of prescriptions from their unified allocations, which have increased on average by over 9 per cent., over the three years starting from 2002–03.
	
		Number of prescription items for Aricept, Concerts and Risperidone drugs dispensed in the community in England in 2003 -- (January to September 2003 only. Not a full year)
		
			 Chemical name Items (000s) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Donepezil Hydrochloride (Aricept) 181.3 
			 Concerta 93.6 
			 Risperidone (Risperdal) 1,019.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Aricept is included in British National Formulary (BNF) Section 4.11 (Drugs for dementia), and is a brand of the chemical entity Donepezil Hydrochloride. Aricept is the only brand. There are no generics available.
	Concerta is included in BNF Section 4.4 (Central nervous system stimulants), and is a brand of the chemical entity Methylphenidate Hydrochloride. Concerta is one of many brands of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride, including the generic.
	Risperidone is a chemical entity and is included in BNF Section 4.2 (Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders). Risperdal is the only brand of Risperdone, there are no generics available.
	2. The data are based on prescription items dispensed in the community, ie by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England.
	3. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospital or private prescriptions.
	4. Doctors, dentists or nurses write prescriptions on a prescription form. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item.
	Source:
	Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) data from the Prescription Pricing Authority

Flu Deaths

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged 65 years or over died of influenza in (a) West Derbyshire, (b) East Midlands and (c) the UK in each year since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. McLoughlin, dated 4 December 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people aged 65 years or over have died of influenza in (a) West Derbyshire, (b) East Midlands, (c) the UK in each year since 1997. (141454)
	Figures for West Derbyshire parliamentary constituency, East Midlands government office region and the United Kingdom are provided in the table below. The most recent year for which data are available is 2001.
	
		Numbers of deaths among people aged 65 years and over from influenza,(36) 1997 to 2001(37)for West Derbyshire parliamentary constituency, East Midlands government office region and the United Kingdom(38) -- Numbers of deaths
		
			  West Derbyshire EastMidlands United Kingdom 
		
		
			 1997 - 21 413 
			 1998 - 13 129 
			 1999 * 60 598 
			 2000 * 43 630 
			 2001 * 5 27 
		
	
	= Zero deaths
	* Fewer than 5 deaths
	(36) Deaths with an underlying cause of influenza defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 487 for the years 1997 to 2000 and, for the year 2001, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes J10 and J11.
	(37) Figures are for deaths occurring in each calendar year, except for data for Scotland and Northern Ireland included in the United Kingdom totals. These are deaths registered in each calendar year.
	(38) Deaths of usual residents of these areas.

Group B Streptococcus

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what analysis he has made of regional variation in (a) preventative measures and (b) treatment and care for newborn babies infected with Group B streptococcus.

Stephen Ladyman: No regional analysis has been made.

Health and Social Care

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the statement on standards provided for by section 45 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 2 December 2003
	A draft statement of health care standards will be published for public consultation early in 2004.

Journey Times

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average journey time was for patients to the nearest (a) general practitioner surgery, (b) dentist and (c) accident and emergency unit in West Derbyshire in the last 12 months.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not held or collected centrally.

Lymphoedema

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people living within the Adur, Arun and Worthing Primary Care Trust area suffered from lymphoedema in each of the last five years; and how many received treatment.

Rosie Winterton: Data are not available by primary care trust (PCT) of residence for the last five years available, nor is it available by strategic heath authority (SHA) of residence. However, the following table shows figures for the four health authorities (HAs) which were merged to form Surrey and Sussex SHA, for which Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT is part.
	
		Primary Diagnosis (ICD-10 Q82.0, I89.0, I97.8) Lymphoedema—Counts of Finished Inyear Admission Episodes by selected Health Authorities of Residence. NHS Hospitals, England 1997–98 to 2001–02
		
			 Health Authority of residence 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 OAK East Surrey HA 3 6 4 2 3 
			 QAL West Surrey HA 3 4 8 4 15 
			 QA M East Sussex Brighton & Hove HA 46 10 25 48 22 
			 QAN West Sussex HA 579 312 357 333 384 
		
	
	Notes
	1. Admissions—admissions are defined as the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. Diagnosis (Primary Diagnosis)—the primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis is fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) dataset and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3. Grossing—figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data except 2001–02, which is not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	Source
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

Macular Disease

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people with macular disease have been provided with low vision aids on the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: Figures are not held centrally on low vision aids provided to people with macular disease.
	Low vision aids are available free on loan, to any person requiring them. It is for local areas to decide how best to organise their low vision services. Most services are provided in a hospital setting by the hospital eye service, who will assess the needs of the individual and provide any necessary low vision aids, this could be in the form of strong reading glasses, magnifiers or telescopes.
	The integrating community equipment services initiative, known as ICES, aims to produce better equipment services for people by bringing what were previously separate local national health service and social services equipment services into integrated organisations. Local services have the responsibility for achieving this integration by April 2004.

Macular Disease

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated (a) in England and (b) in the Huddersfield and Kirklees area for the provision of low vision aids for patients suffering from macular disease in the last 12 months.

Rosie Winterton: There is no national allocation for low vision aids. It is for local national health service providers to decide how much should be made available to fund low vision aids out of their overall allocations, in light of local needs.
	Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust hold the budget for the provision of low vision aids for Huddersfield patients. In 2003–04 £8,078 was allocated for patients suffering from macular disease. Figures are not available for the Kirklees area.
	Low vision aids are available free on loan, to any person requiring them. It is for local areas to decide how best to organise their low vision services. Most services are provided in a hospital setting by the hospital eye service, who will assess the needs of the individual and provide any necessary low vision aids, this could be in the form of strong reading glasses, magnifiers or telescopes.
	The integrating community equipment services initiative, known as ICES, aims to produce better equipment services for people by bringing what were previously separate local NHS and social services equipment services into integrated organisations. Local services have the responsibility for achieving this integration by April 2004.

Plano Lenses

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in re-evaluating the funding status of plano lenses under the national health service for (a) children and (b) adults.

Rosie Winterton: Plano tinted lenses may be prescribed by the hospital eye service for patients who have a recognised clinical need for them.
	Although there are indications that some children and adults with reading difficulties may benefit from tinted lenses, these need to be provided as part of a proper scheme of assessment and treatment or many people could receive them unnecessarily. There is a risk otherwise that more appropriate responses to their needs could be delayed while time is taken up investigating tinted lenses.
	Currently, plano tinted lenses are not available under the general ophthalmic services and there are no plans for this to change.

Preventive Health Strategies

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much per head of population has been spent by his Department on preventive health strategies in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not available. Prevention and improving the health of the population are important aspects of the Department's work and feature in many of its activities, including tackling health inequalities, reducing the risks associated with coronary heart disease and cancer, improving sexual health and dealing with substance misuse.

Sanitary Products

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will offer financial support to women for the purchase of sanitary products.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government accept without question that sanitary protection is essential for women's personal hygiene. However, these are not for medical use and cannot be provided on the national health service. To show the Government's willingness to listen to the views and concerns of women throughout the country, VAT on women's sanitary products was cut to five per cent. from January 2001.

St. Helens Hospitals

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated in hospitals that serve St. Helens in each year since 1992.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		St. Helens and Knowsley Health Authority 1996–97 to 2001–02
		
			  Provider 
			  St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust St. Helens and Knowsley Community Trust 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1996–97 60,622 11 
			 1997–98 61,409 — 
			 1998–99 63,358 * 
			 1999–2000 66,516 — 
			 2000–01 69,157 — 
			 2001–02 68,338 — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The St. Helens and Knowsley Health Authority came into existence in 1996, but was dissolved in 2001–02 and became part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority.
	2. Low numbers—due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between one and five have been suppressed and replaced with '*'. Zeros have been replaced by '—'.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

St. Helens Hospitals

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent per patient on (a) health care as a whole, (b) general practitioner surgeries and (c) hospitals in (i) St. Helens, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) the North West Region in each year since 1992.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Suicide

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is available to voluntary organisations through the National Suicide Strategy; and to which organisations funding has been granted.

Rosie Winterton: Resources will be made available both centrally and through the National Institute for Mental Health in England's eight development centres for specific pieces of work to help implementation of the national suicide prevention strategy. No voluntary sector organisations have yet been granted funding through these resources.
	A number of voluntary sector organisations apply for grants under the Section 64 General Scheme. Some of these organisations have a remit that explicitly includes attention to the needs of vulnerable groups who may be at risk of suicide. Information about the Section 64 General Scheme is available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/sect64/s64. This also includes the full list of currently approved grants.

Waiting Times

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for a first consultant appointment was in West Derbyshire in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Average (median) waiting times for first consultant out-patient appointment following G(D)P referral: Western Derbyshire 
		
			  Median waiting times (weeks) 
		
		
			 1997–98 5.80 
			 1998–99 5.96 
			 1999–2000 6.53 
			 2000–01 6.49 
			 2001–02 6.67 
			 2002–03 5.82 
		
	
	Note:
	For 2002–03, data are taken from High Peak and Dale primary care trust (PCT) and Chesterfield PCT. Prior to this, data are taken from North Derbyshire Health Authority (HA) and Southern Derbyshire HA.
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08R.

Waiting Times

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the clinical areas where the NHS in West Derbyshire has longer (a) waiting lists and (b) waiting times than the national average.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		Patients waiting for elective in-patient admission: Position at 30 September 2003: England, and High Peak and Dales PCT and Chesterfield PCT -- Waiting list per 10,000 head of population
		
			 Specialty England High Peak andDales PCT andChesterfield PCT 
		
		
			 Trauma and orthopaedics 51.0 71.9 
			 Neurosurgery 1.3 2.2 
			 Gastroenterology 2.0 4.4 
			 Cardiology 6.3 7.3 
			 Nephrology 0.2 0.7 
			 Medical oncology 0.0 0.1 
			 Radiology 0.1 0.3 
			 All specialties 195.2 200.2 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QF01.
	
		Average (median) waiting times for elective in-patient admission: Position at 30 September 2003: England, and High Peak and Dales PCT and Chesterfield PCT -- Median waiting times
		
			 Specialty England High Peak and DalesPCT and ChesterfieldPCT 
		
		
			 Trauma and orthopaedics 3.52 4.27 0.75 
			 Oral surgery 2.36 3.00 0.64 
			 Neurosurgery 3.12 4.40 1.28 
			 Cardiology 2.47 2.79 0.33 
			 Nephrology 1.92 2.10 0.18 
			 Radiology 2.33 6.00 3.67 
			 All specialities 2.71 2.70 -0.01 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QF01.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Key Stage 1

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to reform assessment methods at Key Stage 1; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: We have developed a new approach to assessment at Key Stage 1. We have asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to trial an approach that uses testing to underpin teacher assessment.
	Teachers will make a rounded assessment of each child, taking into account task and test results and their own judgment on the child's work. 37 LEAs are in the trial. If the trial is successful it will be extended to all schools in the next academic year.

Student Bursaries

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has for university student bursaries; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: We have made it clear that universities will need to offer bursaries and other forms of financial support in their access agreement if they want to charge a fee above the standard level. We are considering and discussing the precise contents of access agreements and the duties of the Office for Fair Access and will make a statement in due course.

School Funding

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the range of funding available through the formula spending share per pupil in local education authorities.

David Miliband: The Government funds a basic amount per pupil, which is the same everywhere, plus top-ups for deprived pupils,again the same amount per pupil wherever they live, and further top up for areas with high recruitment and retention costs. Authorities receiving more through the top-ups receive a higher level of funding per pupil, reflecting their relatively greater need.

School Funding

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools are in education action zones in the current financial year, broken down by local education authority; and what the total funding made available in the current financial year under the programme is in each education authority area;
	(2)  how many schools are in excellence clusters in the current financial year; and what the total funding made available in the current financial year under the programme is in each local education authority area;
	(3)  how many schools benefit from the Excellence in Cities programme in the current financial year, broken down by local education authority; and what the total funding made available in the current financial year under the programme is in each local education authority area;
	(4)  how many schools received leadership incentive grant in the current financial year, broken down by local education authority; and what the total funding made available in the current financial year under the programme is in each local education authority area.

David Miliband: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Tuition Fees

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of (a) flat rate and (b) variable university tuition fees, with particular reference to equity of access.

Charles Clarke: Flat rate fees force all students to pay the same fee, regardless of the quality of their course, the demand for it, and the return they get from it. Fixed fees mean that there would be no Office for Fair Access, no progress on widening access and no bursaries for poorer students; and they continue to subsidise rich students at the expense of poorer ones. Flat fees would also require universities to charge the required amount even where they wished to offer a course at a lower charge. Variable fees suffer none of these drawbacks: they are fairer than flat rate fees.

Foster Carers

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to increase the number of foster carers; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: In March 2002 we launched the Choice Protects Programme which aims to improve placement choice and stability for looked after children. The first tranche of the three year £113 million grant was given to local authorities to expand and strengthen their fostering services. At national level we have taken action to improve foster carers' pension entitlement and tax position. We have commissioned the Fostering Network to produce recruitment guidelines and are developing a publicity pack to help local authority recruitment of foster carers. Both of these will be available early next year.
	The Green Paper, "Every Child Matters", has sought views on radical and imaginative ways of encouraging people to become foster carers and ensuring they are valued and recognised.

School Funding (North Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations he has received on school funding in North Yorkshire.

David Miliband: My right hon. Friend has received few recent representations about school funding issues in North Yorkshire. On 29 October he announced proposals to restore stability to school funding. Further information about funding for next year was announced on 19 November as part of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement. In 2004–05 all authorities will see an increase in their School Formula Spending Share of at least 5 per cent. per pupil: North Yorkshire's increase is 6 per cent.

Admissions Policy

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance has been issued to schools on special measures about their admissions policies; and what discretion they have been given on the admission of children who have been excluded from other schools.

David Miliband: The School Admissions Code of Practice states that, exceptionally, admission authorities for schools under special measures or those that have recently come out of them may refuse to admit a challenging child, outside the normal year of entry and where there are places available, on the grounds that admission would prejudice the provision of effective education or the efficient use of resources. This will normally only be appropriate if they already have a particularly high concentration of pupils with challenging behaviour, or the child is particularly challenging,

Bullying

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assistance the Government is providing to primary schools to (a) establish student councils, (b) combat bullying and (c) develop anti-bullying (i) strategies and (ii) products.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has worked with School Councils UK to produce a toolkit to help primary schools develop effective School Councils. A copy has been sent to every LEA in England.
	Last month I launched the schools' anti-bullying Charter for Action at the first of a series of regional DfES anti-bullying conferences. We hope primary and secondary schools will adopt the Charter or adapt it to create their own. The Charter includes good practice suggestions. We are also producing audit and training materials for primary schools which deal with bullying as well as other aspects of managing behaviour and attendance. These supplement the DfES guidance pack "Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence" which helps schools develop and implement their anti-bullying policies.

Debt (Late Payment)

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many claims for statutory interest payments have been submitted to private companies under the terms of the Late Payment of Commercial Debt (Interest) Act 1998; how many claims were met; and what the total value was of such payments in each year since the Act has been in operation.

Charles Clarke: No such claims have been made by my Department.

Education (North-west)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of young people in (a) St. Helens, (b) Merseyside and (c) the North West achieved (i) five or more A*-C GCSE grades and (ii) one or more GCSE passes in (A) 1992, (B) 1997, (C) 2001 and (D) the last year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The statistical information requested is detailed in the following tables:
	
		Percentage of 15-year-old pupils(39) achieving 5 or more grades A*–C
		
			 Academic year St. Helens Merseyside North West 
		
		
			 1992 30.5 28.7 33.5 
			 1997 40.2 37.1 41.5 
			 2001 45.8 42.2 46.1 
			 2003 (Provisional)(40) 44.8 46.1 48.9 
		
	
	
		Percentage of 15-year-old pupils(39) achieving at least one GCSE/GNVQ
		
			 Academic year St. Helens Merseyside North West 
		
		
			 1992 89.7 87.7 89.9 
			 1997 91.5 89.5 92.1 
			 2001 93.7 93.0 94.5 
			 2003 (Provisional)(40) 92.5 92.6 94.4 
		
	
	(39) Pupils are aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August.
	(40) The provisional figures for 2003 exclude any adjustments for refugees, which may affect the LEA averages.

Grammar Schools

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many referenda on the future of grammar schools have taken place in the last 12 months; and what the outcome was in each case.

David Miliband: There have been no grammar school ballots in the past 12 months.

Millennium Volunteers

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total funding for Millennium volunteers for each local authority area has been for (a) 2003–04, (b) 2002–03, (c) 2001–02 and (d) 2000–01; and what the anticipated level of funding for 2004–05 is.

Ivan Lewis: The amount of funding allocated for Millennium Volunteers projects in each local authority area is not collected as many projects operate across boundaries. £10 million was allocated for MV in England in 2000–01 but information by region is not available.
	The amount of funding allocated in each region in 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 is provided in the table. The figure for 2004–05 is lower than that in previous years because the Department invested additional funds in excess of the allocated budget in the spending period.
	
		£
		
			 Region 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 East Midlands 1,027,174 1,059,268 1,121,052 979,036 
			 East of England 1,474,717 1,452,331 1,325,198 1,157,321 
			 London 2,062,717 1,933,514 1,711,119 1,494,353 
			 North East 1,072,368 932,442 960,734 839,027 
			 North West 1,834,084 1,967,701 2,018,315 1,762,633 
			 South East 1,468,231 1,933,827 1,952,871 1,705,479 
			 South West 1,628,993 1,675,570 1,810,513 1,581,156 
			 West Midlands 1,598,413 1,577,314 1,664,627 1,453,750 
			 Yorks & the Humber 1,315,365 1,711,213 1,748,783 1,527,245 
			 Totals 13,482,062 14,243,180 14,313,212 12,500,000

Millennium Volunteers

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the impact of the decision to fund support for Millennium volunteers through Connexions.

Ivan Lewis: The impact of the decision to fund support for Millennium Volunteers through Connexions will be significant. It will ensure that the programme will be more responsive to the needs of young people and their local communities and that the programme will be marketed and supported alongside a range of support for young people. The early pilots of Connexions delivery have demonstrated that additional investment in the programme can be achieved as well as economies of scale in areas such as data collection, marketing and celebration events.

Modern Apprenticeships

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people in (a) West Derbyshire and (b) East Midlands have entered (i) an advanced modern apprenticeship and (ii) a foundation modern apprenticeship since the schemes' inception.

Ivan Lewis: The information is not available for West Derbyshire as requested by the hon. Gentleman. However, information is available for old Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) areas and new Learning and Skills Council (LSC) areas. The following table shows the number of starts on modern apprenticeships in Derbyshire Learning and Skills Council (LSC) between 26 March 2001 and the end of July 2003, as well as the number of starts from the inception of the programmes until 25 March 2001 in the three TEC areas that became part of Derbyshire LSC area. The table also shows the number of starts in the East Midlands region in these respective periods.
	
		
			 Time period/TEC/LSC Advanced MA Foundation MA 
		
		
			 Inception to March 2001   
			 North Derbyshire 2,500 1,300 
			 Southern Derbyshire 5,600 2,000 
			 Stockport and High Peak(41) 3,800 1,900 
			 East Midlands Region 37,800 19,500 
			
			 March 2001 to July 2003   
			 Derbyshire LSC 2,300 5,300 
			 East Midlands LSC region 9,100 21,300 
		
	
	(41) Some of the Stockport and High Peak TEC area became part of Derbyshire LSC, but some of the old TEC area also became part of Greater Manchester LSC.

Open University

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cost per graduate of an Open University degree was in the last year for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: The estimated cost of the course fees and other study costs to a student at the Open University graduating with a BA/BSc degree in 2001/02 was £4,400. This excludes the costs to the university and any costs to the student of supporting themselves while studying.

Student Loans

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average size of student loan on entering repayment status was in the last year for which figures are available and; what the average loan taken out in 1999–2000 to 2001–02 was in (a) each region of England, (b) the county of Tyne and Wear and (c) the City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Alan Johnson: The table shows the average student loan debt at the point at which they entered repayment status for borrowers who became liable to repay their loans in financial year 2003–04.
	
		Average student loan debt on entering repayment status in financial year 2003–04(42)
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Mortgage Style loans(43) 6,070 
			 Income Contingent loans(44) 7,170 
			 Part-time loans(45) 650 
		
	
	(42) Data rounded to nearest £10. Include interest accrued up to the point of entering repayment status. Exclude any early voluntary repayments which may have been made before borrowers enter repayment status. Debt of borrowers with more than one loan type has been split between types. Borrowers enter repayment status in the April following their graduation or otherwise leaving their course. Borrowers may have accounts in more than one cohort year of entering repayment.
	(43) Loans made to students who entered higher education up to 1997/98 or who entered in 1998/99 under existing arrangements. Includes loans repayable to the private sector following the sale of two tranches of student loans.
	(44) Loans repayable on an income contingent basis, available to students who entered higher education from academic year 1998/99. These loans were subject to a repayment holiday until April 2000. Includes hardship loans.
	(45) Fixed-rate loans made to eligible part-time students, introduced in September 2000.
	Source:
	Student Loans Company
	Borrowers entering repayment status include those who attended shorter courses as well as those who have left higher education before completing their courses. Therefore the average level of debt will not be representative of the average debt experienced by those who complete their courses.
	Borrowers are liable to repay their loans from the April following graduation or otherwise leaving their course. Most borrowers who started their course from the 1998/99 academic year will repay income contingent loans. Loans for those who started their course before 1998/99 are repayable on a mortgage style basis.
	The table shows the average full-time income-contingent loan taken out by students in the English Government Office Regions, Tyne and Wear and Newcastle upon Tyne.
	
		Average income-contingent(46),(47),(48) loan taken out by domicile of student—academic years 1999/2000, 2000/01 and 2001/02(49) -- £
		
			  Academic year 
			  1999/2000 2000/01(50) 2001/02 
		
		
			 Government Office Region(51)
			 North East 3,060 3,020 3,060 
			 North West 3,130 3,090 3,130 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 3,110 3,080 3,130 
			 East Midlands 3,190 3,120 3,170 
			 West Midlands 3,140 3,090 3,150 
			 East of England 3,180 3,150 3,190 
			 Inner London 3,540 3,470 3,500 
			 Outer London 3,240 3,200 3,240 
			 South East 3,180 3,130 3,160 
			 South West 3,240 3,190 3,250 
			 
			 Tyne and Wear(52) 3,000 2,990 3,020 
			 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 3,050 3,020 3,030 
		
	
	(46) Loans available to students who entered higher education from September 1998, excludes the fixed rate loans (£500) for eligible part-time students, introduced in September 2000.
	(47) Mandatory award holders, i.e. those eligible for mortgage style loans, made applications for student loans through their education institution; data are therefore not available for these students.
	(48) Data have been taken from available data and may include a small number of loans which have been authorised for payment but not paid.
	(49) Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10.
	(50) The apparent fall in the average value of income-contingent loan taken out in 2000/01 can be explained mainly by the fact that this was the third year of this loan scheme; students on the third year of a three year course will receive the final year rate of loan which is at a lower rate as it does not cover the summer vacation. This effect is not present in 1999/2000 and has been levelled out in the years subsequent to 2000/01. Additionally, this is likely to be the first year in which those students on sandwich courses have their placement year and are therefore in receipt of the reduced rate of loan.
	(51) Government Office Region of domicile of student.
	(52) The Metropolitan County of Tyne and Wear was abolished in 1996; it comprised Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland.
	Source:
	Student Loans Company
	Data on the domicile of students taking out fixed rate mortgage style loans (normally those who entered higher education before 1998/99) are not available because applications are made through their education institution.

Student Loans

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether student loan repayments made via the Inland Revenue are immediately credited to individual loan accounts; how frequently the interest on student loan accounts is calculated; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: Student loan repayments are collected by the Inland Revenue mostly through PAYE and the data is transmitted to the Student Loan Company after the end of each tax year. At that stage, repayments are credited to the student's loan account as at the date they were collected. Interest on student loans is calculated annually, set every year from 1 September based on the Retail Prices Index published in April for the previous year.

Students

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) Welsh students are studying at English universities and (b) English students are studying at Welsh universities.

Alan Johnson: The latest information shows that in 2001/02, 30,387 Welsh students were studying courses at English higher education institutions (HEIs) and 31,441 of English students were studying at Welsh HEIs.

Teacher Vacancies (Portsmouth)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there are in (a) primary and nursery and (b) secondary schools in the Portsmouth local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Vacancy information is collected in January of each year. Information for January 2003 is shown in table 17 of the Schools Workforce in England statistical first release (SFR) of 9 September 2003. A copy of this SFR has been placed in the Library. The table is also available on the statistics section of the DfES website at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000411/index.shtml

Teachers' Television Channel

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on (a) the total cost of, (b) the cost to his Department of and (c) the revenue to be raised by the proposed new television channel for teachers.

David Miliband: holding answer 3 December 2003
	The Department has signed a contract for the supply of Teachers' TV with Education Digital, a consortium of Carlton Communications, Brook Lapping Productions Ltd. and the Institute of Education of the University of London. The contract is to provide
	(a) a comprehensive pilot for the Teachers' TV proposition, and
	(b) if the pilot demonstrates the channel will be effective and provide value for money, to supply the channel up to August 2007 (with the possibility to extend to August 2008)
	The costs to the Department of piloting the channel are currently estimated to be £1.5 million. This figure comprises the costs of independent research into the effectiveness of the channel proposition as well as content production and distribution costs.
	The full channel, if launched, will need to demonstrate value for money compared to other expenditure to reach the same objectives. The pilot will help us determine the right level of programming and therefore overall costs. Further information on the cost of the full channel will be available after the pilot.
	The Department is currently proposing to underwrite the full costs of the channel through savings in other central expenditure. However, we will continue to look for ways to mitigate these through sponsorship, commercial airtime and programme sales. We have investigated the commercial value of Teachers' TV airtime, but concluded that, initially, the potential revenue would be unlikely to exceed the cost of sales. We will continue to investigate potential revenue streams that may result from a successful channel and that could be used to off-set total channel running costs.

Teachers' Television Channel

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on how the effectiveness of the proposed new television channel for teachers will be measured; and what targets will be set.

David Miliband: holding answer 3 December 2003
	We have put in place a comprehensive measurement system to ensure the effectiveness of Teachers' TV. A balanced scorecard of measures will be used to measure performance in four areas:
	(a) Audience
	Targets for channel reach and loyalty among the target audience will be set following the pilot (so the pilot can be used to establish realistic but stretching targets). Further key performance indicators have been set to measure relevance, applicability in the classroom and ease of use.
	(b) Content
	Educational outcomes for the channel have been set to ensure programming as a whole is in line with the Department's strategy (e.g. supports raising literacy and numeracy standards). An independent Teachers' TV board will ensure, among other things, programme quality standards are maintained.
	(c) Financial
	Open book accounting will be used to ensure financial transparency. Cost overruns will be borne entirely by the supplier by the Department. Under-spends on content will be entirely retained by the Department, while any economies which the channel supplier can realise in non-content areas will be shared between Department and supplier.
	(d) Functional-technical
	Industry best practice is being adopted in requiring the supplier to meet the same obligations placed on public service broadcasters by the Broadcasting Act 1990, such as independent and regional production quotas. This category also covers maintenance of technical standards such as channel downtime.
	The supplier will be paid on a cost-plus basis. In addition to costs, the supplier will be rewarded for performance against these key performance indicators. Of the maximum 12.5 per cent. channel management fee, 10 per cent. is performance-related, designed to reward excellence by the channel supplier in meeting channel objectives. An independent governance authority, drawing on the work of an independent research agency where appropriate, will evaluate supplier performance.

Top-up Fees

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of universities that will seek to adopt the maximum top-up fee in 2006.

Alan Johnson: It will be up to universities themselves to set their fee levels, provided that they have an access agreement approved by the Office for Fair Access.

Top-up Fees

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed top-up fees on the number of students entering Post Graduate Certificate in Education courses after 2006; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to contribute towards the cost of tuition fees for students entering Post Graduate Certificate in Education courses after 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Paul Farrelly) on 20 November 2003, Official Report, columns 1497–498W.

Tribunal Decisions

Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he will take to ensure that Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal decisions in favour of parents are fully implemented by local education authorities.

David Miliband: The Education (Special Educational Needs) (England) (Consolidation) Regulations 2001 set out the actions that an authority must take to comply with a Tribunal order. If the authority does not comply within the appropriate period, the parent may complain to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. It will then be open to him to issue a direction under sections 496 or 497 of the Education Act 1996. Section 496 applies if the local education authority has acted unreasonably with respect to the exercise of any power or duty. Section 497 applies if the authority has failed to discharge a duty imposed on them.

Truancy

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures the Department has taken since 1997 to reduce truancy in secondary schools; and what the cost was of each programme. [R]

Ivan Lewis: Departmental expenditure on attendance-specific measures includes around £700,000 on publicity materials aimed at parents, practitioner conferences and research into truancy, £11.25 million for electronic registration systems in secondary schools and around £500,000 for intensive expert support for education welfare services in 60 local education authorities.
	This is in addition to funding for a wide range of measures to improve behaviour and attendance provided by the School Inclusion: Pupil Support Grant between 1999 and 2003, through the Behaviour Improvement Programme since 2002 and through the behaviour and attendance strands of the Key Stage 3 Strategy and the Primary Strategy from 2003. Because many of these measures relate to both behaviour and attendance, expenditure on reducing truancy in secondary schools cannot be disaggregated.

Truancy

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils committed truancy from secondary schools in (a) 1997 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available. [R]

Ivan Lewis: The level of truancy is properly expressed as the percentage of all available half days missed due to unauthorised absence. The data for unauthorised absences from secondary schools in 1997/98 and 2002/03 are in the following table:
	
		
			  School year 
			  1997/98 2002/03 
		
		
			 Pupil population 2,786,943 3,003,590 
			 Number of pupils missing at least one half day 452,900 630,058 
			 Average number of half days missed 20 17 
			 Percentage of half days missed 1.10 1.08